Sometime in March 2023, Malaysia joined the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC), a commission led by Japan with the single-track aim of accelerating decarbonisation in Asian nations, a big part of which includes the propelling of cleaner energies.

The AZEC decarbonisation goals start by simply improving energy efficiency, but it also extends to the science of renewable energies, grid developments, and even spans the breadth in the forming of new roadmaps and policies.

It's a very, very long conversation, but in short it proves that no old rules are sacred in this recharting of an entire planet's cause.

Malaysia's decarbonisation

It's evident that even from that zoomed-out perspective, there needs to be a link of ideas – it's not wise to champion one idea above all if it means an entire subset of the population won't or can't benefit from it.

Carbon, as we all know, is cumulative, and our efforts to cull it has got to be a joined force as well.

Observe this route long enough, and you'll start to see that the steps towards carbon neutrality are built by none other than the individuals; people like you and me, who in this context, are buying cars.

We have our own reasons for why we choose one over the other – it can be as honest and simple as cost before any major philosophical implication – and that's why leaving no one behind is tantamount.

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Simply put, there's still all to play for in the decarbonisation of the transport sector. Toyota has fastidiously (or frustratingly, depending on who you ask) scattered their chips all over the board, and while their moves unfold, local arm UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has also joined in playing to a similar tact.

The logic is that decarbonisation isn't a line in the sand that will suddenly be crossed in a fixed number of years. Rather it's a constant work-in-progress that requires intervention as soon as possible, and in that context it's not difficult to see why closing the door to certain tech in favour of another is a moot point.

Multi-pathway for Malaysians

Underpinning it all is the company's support of Malaysia's goals to become a carbon-neutral society by 2050. Hence, as part of its engagement with key stakeholders in the transport and energy sector, UMWT recently hosted an exhibition on the company's multi-pathway strategy for the country.

Also read: Germany and Switzerland now admit Toyota is right - engines not the enemy, carbon is, EV-only solution is too narrow

The symposium played host to a mix of what once was – a cutaway model of an early Toyota Hybrid System (THS) was a nice throwback to the beginning – to a sample of a Toyota Camry Hybrid, and what we have to look forward to: the full-electric (BEV) Toyota bZ4X also made an appearance.

Not to forget that earlier this year the company officially started with the hydrogen side of things too, presenting five units of the Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell (FCEV) sedan to the Sarawak State Government, completing the range of powertrains that UMWT offers, spanning from conventional petrol, electric, and renewable, emissions-free hydrogen.

Also read: Sarawak drives lead of hydrogen cars; receives 5 units of Toyota Mirai FCEV from UMWT

As multi-faceted as things are, the interim will see the company focus on HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles) like the Corolla Cross Hybrid and a couple more models on the way, as a solid foundation to start cutting carbon emissions today, while also not compromising on the ease of currently available infrastructure.

Furthermore, UMWT cites the myriad of infrastructural and cultural landscapes across our country as reason all the more to offer more choices in the market. Being able to cut emissions all the way to zero is great – but until that can reasonably happen, any level of reduction now should already start to occur. 

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“Toyota has a multipathway strategy towards carbon neutrality and this is evident through these green powertrains, each developed to best meet the unique needs of customers in different parts of the world."

"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. We will add more HEV models in 2023,” said UMWT President, Datuk Ravindran K.

Steps into the future

No doubt Toyota still recognises that BEVs are the most energy efficient powertrain, but all that efficiency has got to be backed up with a suitably robust infrastructure too. In that aspect, that's the role the first samples of the Toyota bZ4X EVs will play: for evaluation by the company’s technical team, as well as stakeholders in the government and private sector.

Though the model isn't on sale just yet, the work to ready the infrastructure to support the car's eventual introduction is underway, and to that end the company will be supporting Malaysia's goal of achieving 4,000 charging stations by the end of this year.

Along with that, UMWT says that more developments are on their way – with the promise that no customer group will be left behind in the pursuit of a carbon neutral future in Malaysia.

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“Toyota customers come from a very diverse background, not just customers living in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, but also in East Malaysia. We believe in giving choices to customers."

"They will determine which green solution is best for them. We will continue to evaluate different options and introduce them as appropriate,” points out Datuk Ravindran K.

Ultimately carbon neutrality is one big puzzle, and till then UMWT says it will keep working on each piece – from cars, its factories running on clean energy, to tree planting, and to nation building.