Tadayoshi Sakaguchi, Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer (12 May 2005) JAPAN: The growing number of vehicles in use in Asia and the rapid industrialization of the region are posing serious environmental risks, highlighting the need for Japan and the nation's automakers to extend technical assistance to maintain clean air.

"We're entering the age of hybrid automobiles. I want every car to have a hybrid engine," Toyota Motor Corp. Senior Managing Director Hiroyuki Watanabe said at a meeting of European and Asian journalists held on the sidelines of 2005 World Exposition Aichi in late April in Nagoya.

Hybrid cars are cutting-edge technology enabling environmentally friendly travel, featuring a combination of an electric motor and a gasoline engine to promote the efficient use of energy.

Despite such attributes, a reporter from an Asian country said at the meeting: "We have to develop our economy first before pursuing hybrid vehicles. We can't limit our vision to protecting the environment and neglect other factors."

What is an appropriate approach to dealing with the increasing number of cars in industrializing countries? It is impossible to tell people in such countries not to drive.

According to statistics released by the International Energy Agency, the amount of oil consumed by means of transportation, including automobiles, reached 33 percent of the total amount of consumption in 1971. But the figure is expected to reach 54 percent in 2030.

China is expected to show particularly high growth in this area. The number of passenger cars in the country has increased by more than 9 percent annually over the past five years, compared with a global average of 3 percent.

Rapid increases in the number of passenger cars also has been evident in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. If the number of cars continues to rise, such countries will face serious environmental repercussions, as occurred in Japan, Europe and North America.

Having suffered from severe air pollution, Japan introduced regulations on the exhaust levels of gasoline engines under the Air Pollution Law, which took effect in 1973. The government has since tightened these regulations gradually.

Under a revision to be introduced in October, cars will be restricted to emitting 1 percent of the level of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emitted in 1973.

The government plans to impose tough restrictions on new diesel models to be marketed after 2009.

However, a large number of used Japanese cars that are exempt from the regulations are exported to developing nations in Asia and will remain in use. The government and the nation's automakers should voluntarily offer assistance to those countries.

The government is expected to aid such countries in developing public transportation systems, having extended a 160 billion yen loan to India to develop a rapid transport system in the country.

Japan also has given official development assistance to Thailand and Turkey to fund the construction of subway systems. But the government also should boost support for improving public transport in other countries.

NO and other materials emitted from automobiles cause various health hazards such as asthma while carbon dioxide emission spurs global warming.

Every country should be allowed access to a sustainable transportation system that provides a necessary public service, but also protects the public's health and the environment.

Sophia University Graduate School Prof. Masaharu Yagishita said, "Japan must take the initiative in presenting an efficient transportation model to the world."

The government and the nation's automakers should not only focus their attentions on selling Japanese cars overseas, but also tackling environmental problems by offering their experience and knowledge.

Source: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20050512wo33.htm