UMW Toyota Motor shows how it is going ‘Beyond Zero’

Since the Paris Agreement of 2015 when countries and businesses made a commitment to reduce carbon emissions as one of the global goals to address climate change, the typical target has been ‘net zero’ by 2050. This refers particularly to carbon emissions and by achieving net-zero emissions, it will be possible to balance the whole amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) released and the amount removed from the atmosphere.

Toyota Motor Corporation, as one of the leading companies in the auto industry, has set out an ambitious and comprehensive plan to achieve carbon neutrality in all its business activities globally by 2050. Affiliates such as UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT) – a joint venture between the carmaker and UMW – are also fully aligned with this goal with their own plans.

Not just getting to zero
Like TMC, the aim is not just to ‘get to zero’ but sustain it and UMWT has formulated ‘Beyond Zero’’ which is a set of transformative initiatives with sustainable and eco-friendly practices. And this extends beyond conventional automotive concepts, envisioning a society where individuals pursue happiness by making choices aligned with their values and lifestyles.

Providing choices is also an important element in Toyota’s multiple pathway approach towards carbon neutrality. By offering multiple electrification solutions – which can provide varying degrees of carbon reduction – to meet the unique needs of customers and regions, no one is left behind in the journey toward achieving Zero Carbon Dioxide emissions.

Showcasing ‘Beyond Zero’
UMWT’s ‘Beyond Zero’ initiative will be showcased at a special event (open to the public) from today until February 28, 2024 at the Technology Park Malaysia in Bukit Jalil, outside Kuala Lumpur.  The event was opened by Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry this morning.

The event highlights UMWT’s dedication to aligning its practices with broader national and global efforts to combat climate change and foster sustainable development. “We acknowledge the diverse challenges and opportunities across nations as we champion a multi-pathway approach and implement appropriate life-cycle actions to align with each country’s national interest and Sustainable Development Goals. Recognising the uniqueness of Malaysia’s automotive industry landscape, positioned as a major electrical and electronics manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia, is crucial to position ourselves appropriately in this journey,” said Datuk Ravindran K., President of UMWT.

Diverse approach to electrification
The Beyond Zero event showcases Toyota’s diverse approach with various electrified technologies which are used for different types of vehicles – Hybrid Electric, Battery Electric and Fuel Cell Electric, among them. These electrified vehicles incorporate advanced technologies and design elements which can reduce environmental impact.

UMWT is focussed on vehicles with Hybrid Electric technology which is considered as being the most suited for Malaysia at this time. Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) are one of the pillars of mass electrification and have been growing in numbers on Malaysian roads. UMWT has contributed to these numbers since 2009 when it introduced the Toyota Prius, the world’s first mass produced HEV when it was originally launched in 1997.

Over the past 15 years, UMWT has sold 41,600 HEVs with the numbers having accelerated in the past few years when the company began assembling HEV models locally at its own plant in Selangor. Calculations show that those HEVs have had decarbonisation effects of approximately 150,000 tons of CO2 absorption – equivalent to 500,000 trees doing the same process.

Looking further ahead
While HEVs are suitable for now, there will eventually be a transition to other electrified vehicles and at the event, visitors will see what the future of electrified mobility will be like. UMWT has put on display battery electric vehicles  (BEVs) such as the bZ4X SUV, Hilux BEV and the C+pod which is a uniquely-shaped 2-seater BEV. There will also be Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) which use the reaction of hydrogen gas to create electricity that can be used to power the vehicle.

Models on display which use this advanced technology (originally used in spacecraft) are the Toyota Mirai, GranAce FCEV and Hilux FCEV. The FCEVs mentioned can carry a small number of people and for larger numbers, Toyota has developed the SORA (Sky, Ocean, River and Air) bus which also used hydrogen fuel cell technology.

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