Isuzu revs up green initiative with PTT union for clean fuel trials

Tri Petch Isuzu, Thailand’s Isuzu vehicle distributor, is teaming up with PTT Plc to conduct trials on vehicles powered by an innovative clean fuel. The aim is to support efforts in curbing the high carbon dioxide emissions from Thailand’s transportation sector.

According to academics from Chulalongkorn University, the transportation and power generation sectors contribute to over 60% of Thailand’s greenhouse gas emissions.

This collaboration between Isuzu and PTT is part of the initiatives led by Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies, a group consisting of major automakers such as Isuzu Motors and Toyota Motor. The group is dedicated to promoting technologies aligned with global efforts towards achieving carbon neutrality.

Thailand declared its ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Takashi Hata, the president of Tri Petch Isuzu Sales, emphasized the importance of this goal for the country.

“We will be testing hydro vegetable oil [HVO], a biodiesel derived from used cooking oil,” said Isuzu.

Isuzu believes that HVO has the potential to serve as a green fuel for diesel engine vehicles, capable of reducing CO2 emissions by an impressive 93%.

Additionally, Isuzu is collaborating with Mitsubishi Corporation to research e-fuel, an alternative fuel with promise for internal combustion engine vehicles. E-fuel is a synthetic oil produced from a hydrocarbon compound, and its production process aligns with clean energy development.

Isuzu is pursuing various avenues to achieve carbon neutrality, including the development of innovative products, exploration of new clean energy sources, and enhancement of their operational management system.

The Yokohama-based automaker plans to invest 1 trillion yen (240 billion baht) by 2030, with a portion allocated for battery cell and electric pickup manufacturing in Thailand, establishing the country as its electric vehicle export base.

A portion of this significant investment will be dedicated to projects aimed at achieving carbon neutrality and promoting digital transformation in the logistics sector in Thailand.