Toyota Produces New Engine, to Continue Fuel Cell

As an advocate of clean exhaust emissions, Toyota is already producing the brand-new ZR engine at the second plant of Tianjin FAW Toyota Engine Co., Ltd., as announced recently by the Tianjin Economic- Technological Development Area (TEDA).

This engine meets the tail gas emissions set-out by the Euro III standard. According to Toyota, it also has the potential to meet the Euro IV standard, will be installed in Toyota's new Corolla. The said car will be produced at the third plant of Tianjin FAW Toyota Engine Co., Ltd. next month.

The manufacturer of the ZR engine, Tianjin FAW Toyota Engine Co. Ltd., is the core parts manufacturer of Tianjin FAW Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. The ZR engine has the characteristics of high performance yet low fuel consumption and low emissions. It ranks top among its international competitors in terms of motive power, fuel economy and environmental protection.

The environmentally-friendly engines are produced simultaneously and its output will reach 220,000 sets every year. It therefore means the Chinese market is playing an increasingly important role for Toyota and the position of Tianjin Binhai New Area is undoubtedly more and more prominent in its strategy for the China market.

Aside from the announcement of the initial production of the brand-new ZR engine, Toyota also announced today its plans to continue providing its city-gas-powered 1-kW residential fuel cell cogeneration system to Toho Gas Co., Ltd. (Toho), which is participating in the 2007 Large-Scale Stationary Fuel Cell Demonstration Project of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry by installing and monitoring the system in ordinary homes.

Toyota Motor Company's residential fuel cell cogeneration system combines a stationary fuel cell - jointly developed with Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin) - and a hot water storage tank. TMC is going to manufacture 28 units of the system for Toho. These are planned to be installed inside the houses in three prefectures - Aichi, Gifu and Mie - of Japan's Tokai District to collect data for a two-year period ending in March 2010.

TMC has considered global environmental preservation as a priority management issue in terms of its corporate social responsibility. Consequently, it has been actively developing technologies and marketing products that will help solve environmental problems especially air pollution. Toyota Motor Company’s continuing research and development of residential fuel cell cogeneration systems is part of this effort.

Toyota is also in the process of enhancing Toyota muffler to provide smoothness both in the engine and the exhaust.

During the three-year period from 2005 through 2007, every year, the New Energy Foundation, the organization carrying out Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Large-Scale Stationary Fuel Cell Demonstration Project, has been encouraging energy suppliers to participate in its verification project. Last year, Toyota Motor Company, as a fuel cell system manufacturer, provided 24 residential fuel cell cogeneration systems to energy supplier Toho.