Toyota Sustainability - Vehicle Emissions and Lifecycle Impacts

The need to mitigate the impacts of climate change and likely rising fuel prices is shaping the longer-term outlook for vehicle technology and the future vehicle market. In line with this, Toyota is accelerating the move to new technologies that increase fuel efficiency and decrease carbon emissions.

Both the Federal and Victorian Governments have demonstrated their strong desire for the local industry to build vehicles that help meet the challenges of climate change. They have provided vital support to Toyota Australia, enabling the company to produce the country's first hybrid vehicle - the Camry Hybrid. In the past year support has also been provided for Toyota Australia's engine plant renewal project.

From 2012, Toyota Australia will begin manufacturing more fuel-efficient engines for the locally built Camry and Camry Hybrid sedans. In preparation, Toyota Australia will renew the existing Altona engine plant and install energy-efficient manufacturing equipment.

In addition to manufacturing fuel-efficient engines and vehicles, Toyota is working to reduce emissions associated with the production, usage and disposal of vehicles by assessing the environmental impacts from the vehicle lifecycle.

In 2010 Toyota Australia launched Australia's first locally-built hybrid vehicle, the Camry Hybrid, with the support of the Federal and Victorian Governments.

Camry Hybrid combines electric power steering, electronic brake control, regenerative (electric) braking and electric air-conditioning, and sets a new benchmark for how vehicles are produced in Australia.

Hybrid vehicles produce lower and cleaner emissions than standard engine technologies, reduce fuel consumption and reduce the demand for oil.

Camry Hybrid has CO₂ emissions of just 142 grams/km - similar to that of a 1.3-litre compact car with around half the power. The vehicle benefits from power-assisted steering calibration and a safety system known as Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM). VDIM optimises safety by combining control of vehicle stability control, electric power-assisted steering, traction control and an anti-skid braking system.

Camry Hybrid is the only mid-sized passenger car awarded the maximum five stars by the Australian Green Vehicle Guide.

For more information about Camry Hybrid please click here

Toyota developed the Prius hybrid in 1997 and introduced it to Australia in 2001. By using the regenerative energy from braking and coasting as stored electric power to assist the efficient petrol engine, hybrids offer a step forward in emission performance.

The third-generation Prius sets new environmental standards and is the only vehicle in the domestic market with CO₂ emissions under 100g/km (at 89g/km). The fuel consumption of the new-generation Prius is just 3.9 litres per 100km (official combined cycle).

For more information about Prius please click here

The automotive industry has been supporting ongoing improvements in vehicle emissions and can play a substantial role in contributing to improvements in urban air quality.

All new vehicles sold in Australia are required to report emissions in terms of grams of CO₂/km (g CO₂/km). The National Average Carbon Emissions (NACE) figures are calculated using emissions data and new vehicle sales data.

The NACE is the average 'grams of CO₂ emitted per kilometre' of all new light vehicles sold in Australia. NACE is therefore a measure of the combined effects of improvements in vehicle fuel efficiency and market preference for vehicle type and capacity. The table below details NACE figures from 2002 to 2010.

To reduce the environmental impacts of vehicle use, the automotive industry has encouraged the progressive reduction in the fuel consumption of new cars. The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) set a target to achieve average emissions for all new light vehicles of 222 g CO₂/km by 2010. This target applied to all new light vehicles, including cars, SUVs and light trucks and to all fuel types such as petrol, diesel and LPG.

Progress in the industry has been strong, with the industry achieving the target set for 2010 in 2009. This was largely achieved by changes in market segmentation, advances in engine technology and vehicle design, and growth in alternative fuel types, particularly diesel, according to the FCAI.

In 2010, Toyota Australia continued to reduce vehicle emissions below the target achieved in 2009, with the average emissions for all Toyota and Lexus light vehicles totalling 214.9 g CO₂/km in the year ending 31 March 2011, against the target of 222 g by 2010.

Toyota's efforts to develop greener vehicles have been recognised by the Green Vehicle Guide (GVG), an Australian Government initiative that provides both vehicle fuel efficiency and air pollution ratings for all new vehicles in Australia.

In 2010, three Toyota vehicles and two Lexus vehicle ranked amongst the top 20 performers of all vehicles in the GVG. All of these vehicles achieved the highest possible five-star rating.

The vehicles were:

• Toyota Prius
• Lexus CT200h
• Toyota Yaris
• Toyota Camry Hybrid
• Lexus RX450h

The information provided in the GVG helps consumers compare the level of emissions of different vehicles and their impact on the environment and includes:

• Greenhouse Rating (based on CO₂ emissions): To compare a vehicle's contribution to the greenhouse effect and climate change
• Air Pollution Rating (based primarily on emission standards): To compare a vehicle's contribution to urban air pollution (and associated effects on the environment, human health and amenity)
• Overall 'Star' Rating: To identify vehicles which emit a lower level of overall emissions
• Fuel Consumption (in L/100km): To identify the most fuel-efficient vehicles.

Source: Green Vehicle Guide viewed 18th May 2011

There are considerable fleet emission improvements possible through the market moving to existing lower emission vehicles. In the case of the Prius, the combined emissions of 89 g CO₂/km is significantly below the 2010 NACE figure of 212.6 g CO₂/km.

The European Union has developed international standards (commonly referred to as the 'Euro' Standards) limiting the emissions of pollutants such as carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen by motor vehicles. These air pollutants can contribute to urban air quality problems, such as photochemical smog, and adversely affect human and ecological health. The latest Australian standard, ADR 79/02 Emission Control for Light Vehicles, requires manufacturers to comply with the Euro 4 standard.

As at the end of March 2011 there were 13 Toyota and 7 Lexus models certified to the Euro 4 standard. Additionally, 7 Lexus models and 6 Toyota models were certified as 'Beyond Euro 6,' which is awarded to vehicles with exceptional performance (defined as having hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide emissions at 35 per cent or less than the Euro 4 limits for a standard petrol passenger car).

M/T = Manual Transmission, A/T = Automatic Transmission, LWB = Long Wheelbase, SLWB = Super Long Wheelbase

Toyota Australia will continue to ensure that vehicles meet or exceed Australian Design Rules in an effort to reduce air pollution emissions, and has been actively working with affiliates to emphasise the importance of GVG to the Australian consumer.

Eco-VAS is Toyota's lifecycle assessment process to review vehicle design and manufacture on a regular cycle and ensure broader environmental policies are applied to all parts and overall vehicle designs.

Recognising that the resource impacts of products in manufacture and disposal are mostly determined in design, Toyota has developed Eco-VAS to assess and reduce environmental impacts when vehicle models are refreshed.

The assessment process examines a wide range of items including fuel efficiency, emissions and noise during vehicle use, the disposal recovery rate, the reduction of substances of environmental concern and CO₂ emissions throughout the entire lifecycle of the vehicle from production to disposal. Following the assessment, measures are devised in the initial stages of development to raise the vehicle's overall environmental performance.

Details of Eco-VAS can be found here

Carbon Footprint of a Camry

In a first for Australian automotive manufacturers, Toyota Australia has analysed the lifecycle of the locally-built Camry and calculated that its carbon footprint to manufacture is approximately 10.21 tonnes. This compares to 44 tonnes over its on-road life or 33 tonnes for a Camry Hybrid. The greenhouse gas emissions of the Camry during its lifecycle are shown below. Components shown in red comprise the carbon footprint for manufacturing the vehicle itself.

Manufacturing the Camry represents only 18.5 per cent of the overall footprint of a vehicle during its lifetime use. Toyota Australia has a three-year Environment Plan to manage the environmental impacts of its operations at all sites, particularly the manufacturing plant. The plan sets out short to medium-term targets and actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce waste, increase recycling and reduce water use. This is supported by the Toyota Environment Management System which is the key business system used to manage environmental risks. Since 2000, the company has reduced energy used in manufacturing by 22 per cent per vehicle.

Emissions arising from logistics are due to the transport requirements both before and after vehicle manufacturing. Vehicle parts and raw materials must be transported to the manufacturing plant for assembly and production. Once manufactured, the Camry is transported to the wharf for export or trucked to one of Toyota's dealerships for domestic sale. Per vehicle, 0.09 tonnes of CO₂ is generated from transporting the Camry and its parts around Australia. To read about how the company is reducing emissions in logistics please click here.

The selling of a Toyota vehicle has been screened for greenhouse gas emissions, with Toyota dealership CO₂ emissions accounting for 0.21 tonnes per car. The majority of CO₂ emissions generated from a dealership come from the electricity used to light the dealership. To read about the Toyota Environmental Dealership (TED) program click here. Toyota Australia will continue to reduce its carbon emissions across all operations.

A future based on hybrid vehicles and fully electric vehicles is dependent on battery technology. Materials such as Nickel from the Nickel Metal Hydride Hybrid battery are non-renewable resources and a sustainable vehicle future is not truly sustainable unless these elements are recycled.

Toyota Australia established a hybrid battery product stewardship system with the introduction of hybrid vehicles in 2001. Toyota and Lexus dealers are the central collection points for batteries which are then transferred to certified recycling partners in Australia and overseas at no cost to the owner. The recyclers used by the company are certified to the international environment standard ISO14001. The local recycler is also licensed by EPA Victoria. The battery's plastic, metal and copper wires are recycled locally while circuit boards and battery elements are exported for recycling to an approved overseas recycler.

The hybrid battery recycling process reuses in excess of 98% of materials contained in the recovered battery.

To support product stewardship, especially safety in battery recovery, recycling instructions are provided to our customers, dealers, emergency services, motoring clubs and industry bodies. Roadside assistance and emergency services have also been informed about how to safely handle hybrid vehicles in the case of a vehicle breakdown or accident. The hybrid battery has a warranty period of eight years or 160,000km (whichever occurs first).

To date hybrid battery recovery from all sources has not been significant and Toyota will continue to monitor and encourage battery recovery through our dealers and recycling partners to ensure that Hybrid batteries are recovered for recycling.