Toyota goes on 2nd leg of Hybrid Campus Tour

By Manny N. de los Reyes

TO BOOST its efforts in bringing vehicle electrification closer to the public, automotive leader Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) established a partnership with De La Salle University (DLSU) and staged the second leg of its Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) Campus Tour in the university’s Manila campus.

The partnership, meant to expand the knowledge of the academe through the latest automotive industry trends and direction, was made possible through DLSU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering. Students and faculty members participated in an educational seminar conducted by Toyota’s technical experts, which focused on the beneficial effects of Toyota hybrid technology to the environment. A brief forum was also opened to discuss common misconceptions about hybrid electric vehicles.

Aside from the seminar, attendees were given the chance to see the Prius model up-close, which was displayed at the school’s Central Plaza. Free vegetarian snacks courtesy of Quorn were also distributed to students throughout the day, in line with the activity’s sustainability theme.

“Our continuous activities on HEVs are geared towards the youth because they are the ones who will benefit most from this technology. With enough support and proper implementation, the untapped potential of hybrids can improve our transportation systems and our environment in the long run,” said TMP First Vice-President Cristina Arevalo. “Toyota is driving the future, one university at a time.”

The DLSU leg of the Hybrid Campus Tour series is part of Toyota’s global initiative to promote vehicle electrification towards sustainable mobility. In the Philippines, Toyota is firm on its stance that HEVs are the ideal transition phase for a greener and more energy-efficient automotive landscape.

Last May, the Toyota Hybrid Electric Technology Conference at the Grand Hyatt Manila was attended by over four hundred guests from different sectors like the government, academe, and environmental organizations. Prior to the conference, Toyota started its Hybrid Campus Tour series by partnering with Mapua University last March.

In order to further widen the use of hybrid technology, TMP is looking to bring electrified versions of its existing models to the Philippines. This business direction is aligned with the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050, aimed at eliminating the company’s carbon emissions by the next three decades.

“TMP is well on its way to introducing various technologies and features available in other countries, such as the Hybrid Synergy Drive for fuel efficiency and Toyota Safety Sense for human safety,” she added. “This year will be an exciting time for the motoring public as we continue the push for electrification, and customers can definitely expect more options from Toyota if they’re looking to own environment-friendly cars.”