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Toyota Australia has announced that it is exploring low-carbon liquid fuels (LCLFs) as part of its multi-pathway decarbonisation strategy. In partnership with energy company Ampol, the automaker is currently conducting a trial using 100% hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO100) biofuel, which is compatible with all HiLux vehicles built from mid-2015 and equipped with either the '1GD' or '2GD' turbo-diesel engine.
According to Toyota, more than 500,000 N80 and N90-generation HiLux vehicles are currently on Australian roads, and switching these vehicles from conventional diesel to LCLFs could deliver meaningful emissions reductions across the country's vehicle fleet.
All existing Toyota diesel models are already capable of running on a 20% LCLF blend, while the company is also studying the expansion of compatibility with HVO100 to include additional models. This means that many Toyota vehicles could eventually be cleared to operate on renewable fuel with no fossil diesel required for propulsion.
HVO100 is sourced from renewable feedstocks including vegetable oil and recycled cooking oil. It has a higher cetane number than traditional diesel, providing much higher ignition quality and more stable combustion. It also offers significantly lower sulfur and aromatic content compared with regular diesel.
Importantly, no modification is required for existing HiLux models to run on HVO100. However, the cost of HVO100 itself has yet to be revealed, leaving questions about its commercial viability as a mainstream alternative to diesel.
Toyota says LCLF provides a practical solution for regional customers who want to switch to a lower-emission powertrain technology but still require the practicality, towing capability, driving range and performance that diesel engines deliver.
As part of its LCLF exploration, a HiLux powered by HVO100 successfully completed a 3,000-kilometre road trip through regional Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, in conjunction with the National Bush Summit.
Toyota Motor Corporation Australia CEO and President Matthew Callachor welcomed the announcement and stressed the real-world impact that LCLFs can deliver: 'At Toyota, we believe decarbonisation requires a multi-pathway approach that gives customers practical choices while supporting Australia's transition to a lower-emissions future. We are excited to work with the industry to explore the potential of alternative and low-carbon fuels to support decarbonisation in the automotive industry.'
Source: WhichCar