TOYOTA is about to start real world trials of a new diesel emissions purification system called DPNR (Diesel Particulate – NOx Reduction System).

This new technology continuously reduces particulate matter, blamed for respiratory diseases in urban areas, and nitrogen oxides in diesel exhaust gases.

Toyota claims the system reduces PM and NOx emissions by more than 80%, although it only works in conjunction with sulphur-free diesel and a common rail diesel engine with electronic fuel control. Toyota is confident that DPNR will go into widespread production, complementing its D-4D common rail diesel engines.

In further green moves, Toyota displayed its hydrogen-powered fuel cell hybrid vehicle, FCHV-4. In Japan, the manufacturer has also revealed the FCHV-5 that generates hydrogen from clean hydrocarbon fuel (CHF) using a reformer, to produce zero emission power. CHF fuel can be produced from crude oil, natural gas or coal, and has a low sulphur content.

Importantly, Toyota says CHF can also be used for current internal combustion engines and delivered through conventional petrol pumps, overcoming one of the principal obstacles faced by pure hydrogen refuelling strategies.