UMW Toyota: hybrid car best suited for Malaysia due to dirty electricity, lack of charger; Coming soon Innova, Camry HEV?
UMW Toyota Malaysia recently introduced multi-path strategy to support the country’s mission to become carbon neutral by 2050, in which they reiterated their stance on Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) suitability domestic.
“For Malaysia, we believe that the HEV is the most suitable vehicle for Malaysians, given our fuel source for power generation and the availability of charging infrastructure outside the city center on the coast. west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.” UMWT President Datuk Ravindran Kurusamy said.
The above statement has a basis if we look at the statistics. According to the Energy Commission, Malaysia’s main energy supply in 2020 will come from coal and coke, natural gas as well as crude oil, all of which record five-figure oil equivalents (ktoe).
These energy sources, neither clean nor renewable, have been in use for decades. Tenaga National said coal was the primary fuel for electricity generation in Peninsular Malaysia last year, accounting for 65.84% of the electricity generated. The data also shows a gradual increase in the use of renewable and cleaner energy sources, although they still make up a small percentage – gas at 29.67%, hydro at 3.78 % and solar at 0.7%.
The government has announced that it will promote cleaner energy production with the 12th Malaysia Plan (Rancangan Malaysia Ke-12 or RMK-12), which promises not to build new coal-fired power plants anymore. More recently, Star reported that the government has agreed to lift the ban on renewable energy exports to strengthen the country’s green economic policy.
This will encourage the expansion of local renewable energy companies, which can profit by trading the excess renewable energy generated with neighboring countries. The Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad also noted that 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 now has 900 electric vehicle (EV) charging points, according to a report by Bernama. The department is aiming to increase the number to 4,000 charging points this year.
With primary power supplies coming from “dirty” sources and the limited number of EV charging points available, UMWT believes Toyota HEVs are relevant because of their high efficiency and self-charging nature of the Toyota System. Hybrid (THS) does not depend on public charging infrastructure. This allows for an immediate reduction in carbon footprint without compromising long-distance driving practicality and peace of mind.
“We will be adding more HEV models in 2023,” continued Ravindran in the official UMWT press release. Although it is not mentioned exactly which Toyota HEV models are coming, at least we know that one will be introduced this year.
A probability is completely new Innovation Zenix made its debut in Indonesia last November, available with a pure internal combustion engine as well as a hybrid powertrain.
Debuted in Indonesia, the hybrid system in the Innova Zenix features a 2.0-liter M20A-FXS naturally aspirated 4-cylinder Dynamic Force engine that produces 152 hp at 6,000 rpm and 187 Nm of torque. from 4,400 rpm to 5,200 rpm. The internal combustion engine is boosted by a 113 PS/205 Nm electric motor for a total system output of 186 PS, which is sent to the front wheels via an electronically variable transmission (E-CVT).
Another possibility is Camry hybridwith UMWT placing a white example in the office of Shah Alam, which is hosting an exhibition about the company’s multi-pronged strategy towards carbon neutrality.
The car in the picture here is the most advanced 2.5 HEV Premium Luxury variant, part of the upgraded product line launched in Thailand in November 2021. This version uses the A25A 4-cylinder Dynamic Force engine. -FXS 2.5 liter NA has a capacity of 178 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 221 Nm of torque between 3,600 – 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, the E-CVT is used to drive the front wheels.
UMWT has sold Camry with hybrid powertrain in the past when it launched the version Facelifted version of XV50 Camry back in 2015. The XV70 that followed was only offered with a pure internal combustion engine, including an upgraded model due out in 2022.
There are also reports that Toyota is developing a hybrid version Later fourth generation of Vios that thing we welcomed just two months ago. This model is yet to be confirmed, but we do know that Daihatsu’s New Global Architecture (DNGA) was developed with hybrid technology in mind and it would make sense to go against the current trend. Honda City offered with a hybrid powertrain.
Currently, UMWT’s hybrid lineup has only one model, which is Corolla cross-breed released last January. With the company offering more HEVs in the future, what kind of vehicles do you expect to be launched in Malaysia?
