Toyota South Africa Sustainability Report 2008 - Automotiveonline ...

Sustainability Report_14-10-2008:Layout 1 10/14/08 2:45 PM Page 21
Toyota focuses considerable effort on reducing the environmental footprint of our
products. This is achieved through increasing use of recycled material for the plastic
components of our vehicles, as well as the choice of technology, and thus issues such as
fuel efficiency, in our vehicles.
Fuel Types
Diesel vehicles tend to have lower CO 2 emissions than petrol vehicles, while hybrid
vehicles have lower emissions than both petrol and most diesel engines. The local trend
for Toyota is increased sales of diesel vehicles, as shown below.
VEHICLES SOLD BY FUEL*
FY’06
FY’07
Diesel 25,419 36,351
Hybrid 176 210
Petrol 123,666 110,895
Grand Total 149,261 147,456
* This includes Export Sales.
A cleaner, low sulphur diesel has been available in South Africa since 2006, referred to
as 50 ppm diesel. This is in reference to the European emissions standards for sulphur,
required for all diesel vehicles entering Europe. Toyota South Africa is embarking on a
campaign to encourage customers to use this product, despite it being more expensive
than the old 500 ppm diesel.The major benefit to the customer is the availability of the
latest technology, high performance diesel engines, with better fuel consumption and
increased longevity of engines.
The environmental benefit of these engines is equally important. 50 ppm diesel has been
proven to lower emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), hydrocarbons
(HC), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ).These lower emissions contribute
to reducing acid rain, climate change, ozone depletion, smoke and soot. At the same time,
the particulate filters required to burn the diesel reduce the number of particulates which
are known to exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Toyota South Africa aims to encourage fuel suppliers to increase 50 ppm diesel coverage
by 2010 and to achieve 5 ppm supply
by 2012. A programme of customer
and dealer education is also underway.
The Powertrain
A vehicle’s powertrain is the group of
components that generate power and
deliver it to the road surface, water, or
air. This includes the engine,
transmission, driveshafts, differentials, and the final drive system.
Global economic and environmental factors have resulted in the production of more
economical, higher quality, more reliable, more fuel efficient, less polluting and longer life
powertrains. Many technical limitations are imposed by these requirements, but Toyota is
meeting these challenges through a variety of product offerings that contribute
specifically to a lower pollution footprint for vehicles,as described in the following sections.
Engine and Transmission Technology
Engine technology plays a large part in reducing emissions. The split of Toyota South
Africa sales by engine technology is reflected below, with a short explanation of the
environmental benefits of each technology.
VEHICLES SOLD BY TECHNOLOGIES*
FY’06
FY’07
Commonrail direct injection 22,857 34,062
CVT 176 210
Dual VVT-i 2.241 12.516
VVT-i 101,948 89,167
* This includes Export Sales.
Commonrail direct fuel injection is used in diesel engines. The electronic control over
the injection time and quantity is precise. Direct injection and fine fuel atomization
results in burning fuel more efficiently and as such reduces emissions. This technology
is used in various models in the Auris, Avensis, Corolla, Fortuner and RAV ranges.
Sustainability Report 2008 21