Japanese carmakers commit to environmental harm reduction

By Russell Williamson

JAPANESE carmakers are finally getting serious about developing environmentally compatible cars.

With Kyoto preparing to host an international summit on greenhouse gas emissions -- of which motor vehicles are a primary source -- there was a very definite focus on alternative fuel power trains at this year's Tokyo motor show.

But unlike the environmental schmoozing that Japan proffered in 1995 with visions of rain forests and whale sounds emanating throughout the exhibition halls, this year's efforts were far more realistic and purposeful.

While many manufacturers have displayed and built electric cars for the past decade, most carmakers are now turning to hybrid power plants as the most realistic for volume production in the short term.

Even fuel cells -- which are currently being touted as the next big thing in alternative fuels -- are still at least 10 years off realistic cost-efficient production.

But combinations of electric/gasoline or electric/diesel engines are ready for production now.

Toyota has become the first carmaker to mass-produce and market a hybrid car with the launch of the Prius at the Tokyo motor show.

The Prius combines a 1.5-liter gas engine and an electric motor in a complex system that sharply reduces fuel consumption and poisonous emissions.

Introducing the four-seater Prius, Toyota executives said its technology would cut fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions to half the levels of comparable gas-powered vehicles.

Emissions of nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide would be cut to one tenth those of a conventional 1.5-liter gas engines.

While other Japanese and foreign carmakers, including Detroit's Big Three -- Ford, Chrysler and General Motors -- have hybrid cars in the works, Toyota will become the only one to put the product on the market.

The Prius runs on electricity when it starts and also while running at speeds of under 20km/h, when the gas engine is less efficient.

When the car picks up speed, it runs on gas and electricity.

The car's computer controls the power split between the electric drive and engine drive to the wheels.

The engine and brakes keep the batteries recharged, eliminating the main drawback of electric cars; a short battery life.

In addition to the hybrid engine, other energy saving technologies have been incorporated into the Prius.

The power steering motor, for example, only operates when it is needed -- generally at parking speeds -- while a two layer ventilation system, UV-reducing glass and more insulation help improve the efficiency of the air conditioner.

Inside, space efficiencies have been achieved by placing the gear shift lever for the automatic transmission on the dash and using a foot-operated park brake.

Toyota officials have said the complex technology made the car expensive to produce.

Some reports suggest the showroom price would need to be five million yen for Toyota to cover costs but there would be few buyers at that price.

"Frankly speaking, it may be pretty difficult to make a profit on this at present," a senior Toyota official said.

Growing public concern about gas emissions has prompted Toyota and rivals such as Honda and Nissan to develop hybrids, in the hope that environmentally friendly cars can give a boost to stagnating Japanese domestic sales.

But while the Prius is destined to be sold in the Japanese market only, Honda has made a declaration to address the ever- worsening pollution problems in Southeast Asia.

Next year, Honda plans to start building a version of its Civic in Thailand that is certified as a low emission vehicle in the United States.

By modifying the 1.6-liter VTEC engine, Honda has been able to reduce the exhaust emissions to a level to satisfy the strict U.S. regulations set by the California Air Resources Board.

The LEV level for hydrocarbon emissions is 0.075 grams per mile.

This compares to an average car in 1970 -- which in terms of emissions resembles many of the vehicles still on Jakarta's clogged streets -- that produced about 3.4 grams per mile of hydrocarbons.

This introduction of the Honda Civic -- which will also come to Indonesia -- is the first time a carmaker has committed to a real pollution reduction strategy for the region.