BEYOND ZERO-HOW TOYOTA IS LEADING THE RACE FOR CARBON NEUTRALITY

Aside from some blue graphics and an "H" logo on the side, it looks like any ordinary Corolla Cross, Toyota's popular compact crossover.

But stepping inside, you'll be surprised to see the steering wheel on the right side. That's because this particular Corolla Cross has been shipped from Japan as a showcase of the automotive giant's hydrogen technology, of which it is among the leaders in the industry.

We are at the back parking lot of the huge Toyota Manila Bay dealership to witness the hydrogen refueling of the Corolla Cross. Viewed from afar, it looks like your ordinary gasoline or diesel refueling. But up close, you'll see the pump nozzle and the refueling opening of the car to be much smaller than the usual gas/diesel nozzle or opening.

That's because refueling with hydrogen is more complicated than refueling with gas or diesel. Hydrogen is stored at near-freezing temperatures (both at the pump and in the hydrogen tank of the car) and it can switch between gas and liquid states. It's also stored and pumped under pressure and is measured in kilos, not liters.

Another difference is that there no gasoline smell as hydrogen is odorless and colorless. One similarity, though, is that it takes about the same time to refuel a hydrogen car as a regular gas or diesel car.

But before the drive, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) delivered a comprehensive presentation on its Beyond Zero global initiative with several speakers and decks. Reinforcing Toyota's global commitment to carbon neutrality, Beyond Zero is Toyota's corporate initiative towards clean energy and a low carbon economy transition. It aligns with key national policies related to the transportation sector such as the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA) and Philippine Energy Plan.