UMW Toyota Malaysia recently presented its multi-pathway strategy to support the country’s mission of becoming carbon neutral by 2050, in which it reiterated its stance on the relevance of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) in the country.
“For Malaysia, we believe HEVs are the most suitable for Malaysians, considering the fuel source of our electricity generation and availability of charging infrastructure outside city centres in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.” said UMWT president Datuk Ravindran Kurusamy.
There is merit to the above statement if we look at the statistics. According to the Energy Commission, Malaysia’s primary energy supply in 2020 came from coal and coke, natural gas as well as crude oil, all of which recorded five-figure kilotonnes of oil equivalent (ktoe).
These energy sources, which are not clean nor are they renewable, have been relied on for decades, with Tenaga National stating that coal was the predominant fuel for producing electricity in Peninsular Malaysia last year, making up 65.84% of the power being generated. The data also shows a progressive increase in the use of cleaner and renewable energy sources, although they still make up still make up a small percentage – gas at 29.67%, hydropower at 3.78% and solar power at 0.7%.
The government has already announced it will promote cleaner energy generation with the 12th Malaysia Plan (Rancangan Malaysia Ke-12 or RMK-12), promising it will no longer build new coal-fire powerplants. More recently, The Star reported that the government has agreed to lift the ban on renewable energy exports to enhance the country’s green economy policy.
This would encourage the expansion of local renewable energy companies, which can be benefit by trading excess renewable energy generated with neighbouring countries. Natural resources, environment and climate change minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad also noted renewable energy will account for 70% of the nation’s electricity supply by 2050.
Meanwhile, the ministry of investment, trade and industry (MITI) said in February this year that Malaysia currently has 900 electric vehicle (EV) charging points, according to a report by Bernama. The ministry is aiming to increase the figure to 4,000 charging points by this year.
With primary energy supply coming from “dirty” sources and a limited number of EV charging points available today, UMWT believes Toyota HEVs are relevant as they are highly efficient, and the self-charging nature of the Toyota Hybrid System (THS) isn’t dependent on public charging infrastructure. This allows for immediate carbon reduction with no compromise to long-distance driving practicality and peace of mind usage.
“We will add more HEV models in 2023,” Ravindran went on to say in UMWT’s official press release. While it wasn’t mentioned exactly what Toyota HEV models are coming our way, we do know that at least one will be introduced this year.
One probability is the all-new Innova Zenix that made its debut in Indonesia last November, which is available with a pure internal combustion engine as well as hybrid powertrain.
Already launched in Indonesia, the hybrid system in the Innova Zenix features a M20A-FXS 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder Dynamic Force engine that makes 152 PS at 6,000 rpm and 187 Nm of torque from 4,400 rpm to 5,200 rpm. The combustion engine is augmented by a 113 PS/205 Nm electric motor for a total system output of 186 PS, which is transmitted to the front wheels via a an electronic continuously variable transmission (E-CVT).
Another possibility is the Camry Hybrid, with UMWT putting a white example at its Shah Alam office that hosted the exhibition on the company’s multi-pathway strategy towards carbon neutrality.
The car pictured here is the range-topping 2.5 HEV Premium Luxury variant that is part of the facelifted line-up launched in Thailand in November 2021. This uses an A25A-FXS 2.5 litre NA four-cylinder Dynamic Force engine pushing out 178 PS at 5,700 rpm and 221 Nm between 3,600 and 5,200 rpm.
The electric motor here is rated at 88 PS and 202 Nm for a total system output of 211 PS, with power coming from a nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery under the rear seats. As with the Innova Zenix, an E-CVT is used to drive the front wheels.
UMWT has sold the Camry with a hybrid powertrain in the past when it launched the facelifted version of the XV50 Camry way back in 2015. The XV70 that came after was only offered with pure internal combustion engines, including the facelifted model in that arrived in 2022.
There are also reports that Toyota is developing a hybrid version of the fourth-generation Vios that we welcomed just two months ago. This model hasn’t been confirmed yet, but we know the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) was developed with hybrid tech in mind, and it would make sense to counter the current Honda City that is offered with a hybrid powertrain.
Currently, UMWT’s hybrid line-up only has one model, which is the Corolla Cross Hybrid launched last January. With the company set to offer more HEVs in the future, which one are you hoping will be launched in Malaysia?
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So is dirty electricity better or dirty petrol engine? Since one is point source emission while the other emits every where it travels worst still during jam.
But the argument for our lack of backbone for EVs are understandable since we lose out to all our neighbor in setting any standard forward.
HEV: carbon-emitting ICE driven (i.e. Prius)
PHEV: carbon-emitting ICE +charging (i.e. 330e)
BEV: pure charging motor-battery driven (i.e. Tesla)
2050 still many years away
HEV will be on-focus to sell more ICE
Else plants closing, many heads will roll..
finally somebody speak out the truth.
neither coal based nor hydrocarbon based power plants may emit more carcinogenic pollutants into atmosphere compares to ICE vehicles and two stroke four stroke motorcycles combined.
Altis Hybrid please
I hope it is the Prius, not the innova
it’s because toyota EV roadmap is unclear.
bz4x is a failed product, and the second product is a rebadge BYD.
so dont talk about ‘dirty electricity’ when you simply dont have a proper EV product to selll.
Absolutely. Toyota failed in not supporting EV and now they realize they are too late so talk about their hydrogen (cleaner but wait for a few explosions) efforts. Meanwhile they try to piggy-back on other brands’ efforts to have something to offer.
No question in Msia we have EV infrastructure issues. There is also the problem of driving mentality. I laughed at the much published efforts of two jokers who admitted testing a Volvo C40 against a BMW M-series car (they claimed “can keep up”) then complained they had to recharge twice travelling KL-JB and back. Travel on the highway – how many jokers would “keep up with M Series”?
Toyota didn’t go all-in into EVs because they know it’s a globalist scam. Poor African countries exploited to the hilt with child labour digging for rare earths with their bare hands (read up on the Congo cobalt mines).. large uptick in battery production that have finite lifespan of a decade or less, with no clarity on battery disposal and recycling (it’s still a fact today that battery recycling is way behind the manufacturing rate, and way behind the disposal and decommissioning rate).. battery tech still susceptile to eletrode dendrites that shorten their lifespan, coupled with temperature issues (although LFP has lesser risks than Li-Ion, there’s still plenty of cases of BYD’s LFP Blade batteries combusting in China).. collision safety in an unpredictable scenario vs. a test scenario still shows us that EVs can burst into unstoppable combustion during major impacts.. the list goes on and on and on.
The technology for EVs are not mature yet but we’re using the same tech for handphones and laptops and scaling them up for electric vehicles at a time when there’s still skepticism of lithium-based batteries’ utility-grade robustness and reliability for power grids.
Toyota is smart. Until we have alternatives to lithium-based batteries that have less environmental impact, lower end-to-end lifespan pollution and carbon footprint, utility-scale reliability, zero risk of runaway combustion, it’s better for Toyota to just have some “token” EVs to quell the screaming harpies of the tree-hugging woke crowd.
Absolutely.. not forgetting the thousands of acres of deforestation to give way for material mining, force displacement of residence in that area.. Mining excavators don’t run on electricity but diesel fuel.
On the other hand, the reason why China is going all out on EV is that China has fallen behind in ICE race for decades while everyone is staring from the same starting point for EV, and China see the opportunity to leap forward in the EV race. Not so much on advocating green environment but more on technological and political race against the west..
Toyota has never believed that full EV is truly clean. You can Google it up. They have stated multiple times for many years that their studies have shown that hybrid is the best for many countries for at least the next 20-30 years. They were forced into EV, or else they will face restrictions.
If you people decided to ignore the elephant in the room, don’t blame Toyota. Japan uses a lot less coal compared to Malaysia and they still found that hybrid is cleaner overall.
Use LRT, if you really want to go green. Better yet, ride bicycle. Talk is cheap. If you think Toyota is not doing enough, just buy Tesla instead of whining and moaning like you’re ready to buy 50 cars. Pfft
When tnb use more natural gas instead of coal, people will complain high electric bill.
Toyota’s roadmap is not clear? You real have no idea.
Dirty electricity same like ur umw dirty profit
Dirty electricity? Maybe u are right. But compare to dirty greed u hv to allow clearly cheating Vios on sales and Japan itself uses life threatening nuclear power for electricity, I think Malaysians can look pass your statement. If u want to rest on your laurel, go ahead. The Chinese brands are coming in left right and centre, making your cars no exceptuonal selling point other than then your brand power.
“Japan itself uses life threatening nuclear power for electricity”
IQ 80 detected..
salesman talk
LOL .. So is Toyota gonna sell ev in m’sia ? I like the BZ4X.
In my opinion, Perodua and Proton plays a huge role on HEV acceptance in Malaysia
yup, agree that hybrid is answer for Malaysia due to the “dirty electricity” in Malaysia.
My facelifted version of the XV50 Camry since 2015 can run up to 700km with RM100 RON95 petrol. excellent performance
A Camry with “excellent performance”? :D
My ICE Axia can run 430km on rm55 petrol (780km per rm100) city drive
Some country has cleaner electric based on greener energy,
Some country has electric produced based on fuel with more pollution.
Finally, it is the Total Carbon Footprints that count.
You have to control the production, transportation and consumer usage to count it.
Last time, we have dirty fuel , so many car brand dont bring in new engine tech , now they recycle same idea and dare to say our electric is dirty
Now we know who is dirty minded
bring in prius la
Many “Idiots” does NOT seem to know that ALL Power Generation Plants have to SUBMIT “EIA – Enviroment Impact Assessment” for APPROVAL to Govn. These requirements are VERY STRICT and “Pollution” to residential areas are rejected. Thus …NO POWER PLANTS are allowed NEXT to Residentail areas. However every day Buses, Cars and M/Cycles are NEXT to Schools, Hospitals , Mosques, Homes , etc. Wake up to NOISE Pollution and Breath In Fumes which causes “Lung Cancer and others”. Wake up …ICE and Hybrid users. EV is the way for a HEALTHY future.
Hahaha from the way you talk it’s clear that you haven’t worked on the development of a combined cycle power plant or even a hydroelectric power plant before.. your understanding of their EIA requirement is totally wrong LOL…
It is very shameful to blame on Malaysia source of energy…
However, Toyota/UMW are they using green material such as steel? BIG NO…. What a crappy statement…
No need la. Hire new designers who knows how to design cars first, and innovators who can work on technologies, then only talk about HEV. The design so Jinjang, AhPek, Ahbeng and Lalamui.
How does Toyota account for it’s “dirty” submission for NCAP test cars? Toyota so confident of their “clean” mentality that they had to rig the cars submitted for testing. Shame on you Toyota. Chairman & CEO should commit hari-kiri for being so “dirty”.
I have lost confidence in your integrity – no more Toyota (& Msian derivatives).
Dirty electricity or not, the net environmental impact of EVs are vastly greener than that of ICEs because EVs are close to perfect efficiency with their energy usage from batteries to motor, whereas ICEs are very inefficient. Sounds to me like Toyota’s just making excuses at this point, what a shame.
Line losses, tranformation losses. EV’s may be efficient, the power distribution is less than efficient .
Agree on that. Most here doesn’t study Thermodynamics and doesn’t understand what does an engine with 40% thermal efficiency means. Still, the source of EV must not be based on source like burning coal.
Just admit Toyota EV not ready yet. =P
Byd tech with a Toyota badge is the future of Toyota ev cars
A typical double storey landed property can install with 20 solar panels and it will able to generate green electricity (worth about RM600-RM800 per month) for next 20 years.
ROI would be around 5 years if we install AC charger for our EV cars.
” 20 solar panels and it will able to generate green electricity (worth about RM600-RM800 per month”
So EV’s are the perfect solution for retired people or people who have to work night shift. Moonlight won’t work to power the solar cells.
Green Electricity or Zero Carbon emission = Solar Panels + Battery Storage + EV
Aiya…EV or no EV, in Malaysia, unless Potong and Perutdua got EV models, most Malaysians will continue to drive petrol cars. If people are struggling to buy a Vios, how are they supposed to afford an EV that costs more? (which most of them are anyway!)
PHEV is the way to bridge the gap between BEV and ICE. It’s the best option considering Malaysia charging infra is lacking and overnight home charging is viable as Malaysian mostly owned landed properties. Daily commute fits the choice and infrequent cross country drives eliminates range anxiety. Toyota models fit the price tag and functionality. Why is UMW not capitalizing on this?
PHEV is the way to bridge the gap between BEV and ICE. It’s the best option considering Malaysia charging infra is lacking and overnight home charging is viable as Malaysian mostly owned landed properties. Daily commute fits the choice and infrequent cross country drives eliminates range anxiety. Toyota models fit the price tag and functionality. Why is UMW not capitalizing on this?
Oh well, coming from the sole distributor of Toyota cars, carrying the least hybrid models, zero EV/PHEV/FCV… The previous doomed Prius distribution result has already proven UMW failure in representing Toyota.
Dirty electricity? Toyota is saying this because it does not have any electric vehicle to sell. Its BZ4x cars are not doing well as it still doesn’t have experience in building electric cars. Please well hydrogen fuel cars. See how many can Toyota sell without any infrastructure in place!