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Biodiesel upgraded to B20 from today, but B7 will still be available for Euro5 diesel

The government today moved to the next step in promoting the use of biodiesel which is a blend of diesel and palm oil (palm methyl ester). The new level will be B20 which means there is 20% of palm oil and diesel is reduced from 90% to 80%. B20 is intended for the transportation section and will be available at selected stations of the main petroleum brands (BHPetrol, Petronas, Shell, Caltex and Petron) in phases.

The conversion of stations to B20 will be done in phases with the aim of having over 3,400 stations by the middle of 2021. Incidentally, Indonesia, also a major palm oil producer, made B20 mandatory from January 2016.

However, Euro5 diesel which has B7 formulation (7% palm oil) will continue to be available at stations that currently supply it. This is to cater to passenger vehicles with modern turbodiesel engines using advanced technologies that are more fuel-sensitive.

Prior to the launch of B20, the MPOB has carried out extensive test programs with companies like Mazda Malaysia and agencies like DBKL (Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur) which has been using it in its fleets.

To ensure consistent and high quality, SIRIM has formulated two new standards for biodiesel – MS123-4:2020 (High PME Diesel Fuel specification) for Euro2M fuel and MS123-5:2020 (High PME Diesel Fuel specification) for Euro5 fuel.

Ford Ranger Raptor Nissan Navara — *The turbodiesel engines of the mighty Ford Ranger Raptor (left) as well as the Nissan Navara are compatible with B20.*

The biodiesel program began as far back as the early 2000s with the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) taking a lead role in developing and testing formulations which could be commercialized. Being a leading producer of palm oil, it only made sense to maximise its utilisation by developing biofuel.

Actually, biodiesel is nothing new and there’s even an International Biodiesel day on August 10. The date commemorates the day in 1893 when Rudolf Diesel successfully started the engine he invented and it ran on peanut oil. In later years, various formulations blending vegetable and plant-based components would be developed.

The government announced its Biofuel Policy in 2006 but it was only in mid-2011 that commercial supply began, with PETRONAS being the first company to offer it at a station in Putrajaya. The program started with B5 (5% palm oil) and then moved to B7 in December 2014. Though biodiesel actually costs more to produce than normal diesel, the pump price was not increased as the government provided subsidies.

While commercial vehicle engines were not so fuel-sensitive, the increasingly sophisticated passenger vehicle engines require fuel of high quality and there was concern that biodiesel would cause problems. Nevertheless, the MPOB did extensive testing on a range of vehicles and also had JAMA (Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association) to evaluate and provide assistance.

After much testing, B5 was found to be okay as long as it met the MS2008:2008 Malaysian standard which is based on the international EN14214: 2003 for such fuels. The first company to confirm that its cars could use B5 was BMW Group Malaysia, assuring owners that use of Malaysian biodiesel in their cars would not void their warranties.

BMW turbodiesel engine — *BMW Group Malaysia ran tests on biodiesel and had no concerns about damage to its engines up to B7.*

As the government was planning on continuing to increase the palm oil content in biodiesel, there was concern among the car companies that going beyond 7% could cause issues with engines. The higher moisture content in the fuel from having 10% of palm oil (B10) could cause corrosion of the components which transport the fuel and promote oxidation in the tank which can cause a blocked fuel filter.

BMW Group Malaysia ran tests using B10 and found that damage could occur. According to the company, the engines ran fine with B7 which had been sold at the pumps since December 2014. Nevertheless, the government pressed ahead with moving to B10 in June 2016 and made it mandatory for the transport sector from last July.

B7 Euro5 — *Euro5 Diesel will still continue to be B7 (7% palm oil) to cater for passenger car engines.*

The compromise was that B7 would still remain available – and this remains the case with B20 now being introduced – so that owners of passenger vehicles would not have problems. However, it will only be available for the Euro5 grade which costs 10 sen more a litre than regular diesel (which is subsidized to maintain the price at RM2.18).

There are plans to someday reach B100 – the fuel being having only palm oil – but the next step will likely be to B30. DBKL, which wants to create a Low Carbon City, will test a B30 blend in up to 50 vehicles in its fleet from June 2020. Technical data from using the fuel will be shared with MPOB.

Apart from helping the palm oil industry, increased use of biodiesel will also help in reducing air pollution and Malaysia’s carbon footprint. Air quality can be improved as biodiesel has almost no sulphur that gets into the air with exhaust emissions. It also benefits the smallholders who own 40% of the oil palm plantation areas in the country.

Go Auto to supply police with Toyota Corolla Altis as patrolcars

Motorists will soon see a new police patrol car on the roads which replaces the aging Proton Wira and Waja models. The new model to be used will be the Toyota Corolla Altis which has been accepted by the Home Ministry as a new Mobile Patrol Vehicle (MPV) for the PDRM.

425 units will be supplied by Go Auto Sales Sdn. Bhd., with the first 100 units being delivered in less than 2 months for use in the days leading up to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2020 which will be hosted in Kuala Lumpur. The remainder will be delivered 2 months later.

PDRM Toyota Corolla Altis — *The PM viewing a prototype of the Toyota Corolla Altis patrolcar.*

A prototype unit of the Corolla Altis was shown to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Putrajaya. The MPVs will come with 5 years of free scheduled service and each unit will be equipped with additional special accessories such as an Integrated Light Sound System and Fleet Management System, as well as a VHF communication radio set.

“This is the second time Go Auto has been awarded with a tender. Before this, we successfully delivered 200 units of 4WD vehicles to the PDRM last year, which was earlier than the expected time-frame,” said Go Auto Group Executive Director, Dato’ SM Azli SM Nasimuddin.

“Our main focus is Special Vehicles and we are actively bidding in open government and private tenders as it is part of our business diversification. The stiff competition in the automotive industry now has led to Go Auto being more aggressive and creative to remain competitive in the business,” he said.

Go Auto, incorporated in 2013, is the business partner of China’s Great Wall Motor (GWM) and manufactures and distributes Haval SUV and GWM vehicles in Malaysia and ASEAN market. The company was the first to be awarded with a car manufacturing license for Energy Efficient Vehicles (EEVs) by the International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) under the National Automotive Policy (NAP) 2014.

FIRST DRIVE: 2019 Toyota Corolla 1.8G

First Volkswagen Tour of 2020 is at 1 Utama Shopping Centre

Want to know more about the Volkswagen range in Malaysia? There are 23 authorised dealerships around Malaysia where you can view the various models. Better still, because Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) believes that Volkswagen products are Better Experience than Explained, you should also go for a test-drive.

Until February 23, there’s also a 24^th location you can check out Volkswagen models if you’re in the Klang Valley. VPCM is having the first Volkswagen Tour of the year at the 1 Utama Shopping Centre. The display of vehicles is at the Ground Floor of the Centre Court in the old wing, from 10 am to 10 pm.

VW Passat Elegance — *2020 Volkswagen Passat Elegance*

Models that are on display are the iconic Beetle, Vento, Tiguan, Golf R-Line and GTI as well as the new Passat Elegance which was launched just last month. A benchmark within its class, the new Passat has an updated 2.0TSI petrol engine and is the first front-wheel drive Volkswagen model in Malaysia to come with a new 7-speed wet clutch dual-speed gearbox (DSG).

Test-drives are also available at the venue and if you are convinced that you want to buy a Volkswagen, you can place a booking there. Customers who make a booking at the event will receive an additional RM1,000 petrol cash voucher on top of existing rebates.

If you really can’t get to the event or any showroom, you can still find out more about Volkswagen vehicles, services and offers in Malaysia online at www.volkswagen.com.my.

REVIEW: 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4TSI Highline

The New Land Rover Defender can fly too! (w/VIDEO)

The age of flying cars for the masses has yet to start but it must be coming, going by what the new Land Rover Defenders are shown doing in a movie. The 4×4 brand’s products have always been known and admired for their off-road capability on any terrain, wading ability across rivers and extreme durability. Now it appears that they will soon develop some sort of flying capability too!

That they can fly and mimic motocross bikes that swoop 30 metres over ground made them the natural choice for use in ‘No Time To Die’, the James Bond movie that will be in cinemas this April.

It’s not the first time that the Defender has starred in a Bond movie, but it is the first movie for the all-new Defender that was launched last September.

Ten Defenders were acquired for the movie for use in an exciting chase scene, and one of the SUVs has the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) 007 which indicates it was the seventh vehicle to be produced. Customers who have ordered their Defenders will soon be getting them but demand has been very great so Land Rover expects it to exceed supply.

The dramatic scenes are used in Land Rover’s television commercial for the new Defender and demonstrate its various capabilities on tough terrain. The commercial also give an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at how those flying scenes were done so you can see it wasn’t CGI. The rehearsal footage includes further extreme tests as the vehicle is driven at top speed through swamps and rivers.

The chase sequence in ‘No Time To Die’ was led by stunt coordinator Lee Morrison, working alongside Oscar-winner Chris Corbould, the special effects and action vehicles supervisor. “We pushed the Defender further than we believed possible to generate the maximum excitement, and to give fans an insight into the uncompromising challenge of producing an incredible chase sequence which you can look forward to seeing in ‘No Time To Die’,” said Morrison.

“We developed a new test standard for Defender, the most challenging we’ve ever had and unique to this vehicle. Physical strength and durability is measured by a number of different tests including a bridge jump test which gave us confidence to deliver what the stunt team needed to create for ‘No Time To Die’, with no modifications to the body structure except the installation of a roll cage,” revealed Nick Collins, Vehicle Line Director for the Defender at the factory.

Putting these vehicles through their paces was Jessica Hawkins, whom Morrison handpicked from the Formula 3 W Series after spotting her potential. He wasted no time in giving her the opportunity to feature in what will be her first ever motion picture.

All-new Land Rover Defender makes global debut in Frankfurt

Save almost RM48,000 with the Nissan Subscription Plan

This has been a decade of change in the motoring landscape, for the carmakers, the industry as a whole and also motorists. Concerns about the environment and safety have forced the manufacturers to be serious about ‘electrification’ of their products to drastically reduce emissions, and add more safety systems. At the same time, pressures from an increasingly competitive market mean that costs have to keep going down to stay competitive.

For motorists, competition in the market is good, of course, as it means that they have more choices, better deals and more affordable prices. However, times have changed too and priorities are different because of uncertainties of the future. Saving to buy a home is still important to many but the second most expensive purchase – a car – is no longer that important.

Nevertheless, while the public transport system continues to improve, having a car is still a necessity for many people but they don’t necessarily need outright ownership of it. In fact, a recent study has found that to be the case, with 51% of Malaysians (who participated in the survey) saying that they did not need outright car ownership and would be fine with long-term ‘rental’ of vehicles for personal transport.

A new mobility solution
Renting vehicles in its traditional form is expensive but what if there is some way where a company can offer a ‘subscription’ to use the car over a long period. It’s a different approach to car ‘ownership’ and now it’s available to Malaysian consumers as a new mobility solution.

Known as the Nissan Subscription Program (NSP) and offered by Edaran Tan Chong Motor, this new approach can prove to be more advantageous than the traditional hire-purchase (H-P) way of buying and owning a new car. It removes the long-term commitments (up to 7 years these days) of having to pay instalments and being stuck with the same old car over a long period. With new models coming out all the time, having the flexibility to change more frequently would be more desirable for today’s consumers.

Beyond just removing the commitment, the NSP also has other advantages, one of them being no requirement to provide a hefty downpayment at the start. There is the full factory warranty, of course, and all maintenance costs are also covered by the NSP. Sounds great, doesn’t it? And when you work out the costs between a conventional H-P loan and the NSP, there are meaningful savings so your hard-earned money can be used for more important things in life.

Savings of almost RM48,000
Taking the latest Nissan X-Trail HYBRID as an example, the savings can be almost RM48,000 when compared to all the costs involved in a 5-year H-P loan and a 3-year Nissan Subscription Plan (the chart below shows the detailed costing). More importantly, for those who have had concerns about replacement of the battery pack, this too is covered under the maintenance provision, so it won’t be a cost to worry about at any time.

The NSP is also available for the all-electric Nissan LEAF and just as with the X-Trail HYBRID, all maintenance costs are covered over the entire 3-year period of the subscription. Besides saving RM6,800 over 3 years, compared to the costs for a 5-year H-P loan, there’s also no worry about the costs relating to the battery pack.

There are some terms and conditions to the NSP but generally, the main thing is that consumers now have an easier way to maintain personal mobility. At the end of the subscription period, the car can be returned to ETCM or purchased at an agreed price. For those who dislike the hassle of having to sell off their car, the NSP takes that hassle away.

Change every three years
And for those who like to have the latest cars in their driveway or porch, this approach allows them to change their car every 3 years… certainly more frequent than most Malaysians! That’s usually the interval when manufacturers will introduce either the next generation of a model or an updated version.

The NSP is available for periods of 2 or 3 years, with monthly rates starting from RM1,800 for a Nissan X-Trail HYBRID. There are also plans customized for non-Malaysian citizens who may be working in the country and require a car. The NSP can be a more convenient way for them and when they are ready to leave, ETCM can offer them a hassle-free and quick process.

Interested in using the Nissan Subscription Plan for your next car purchase? All you need to do is visit any authorized Nissan dealership and make an application. Within 7 days, when the status of the application is known, payment of the security deposit (refundable), first month’s subscription and insurance premium can be made. Thereafter, depending on vehicle availability and the necessary registration processes, delivery should be within 2 weeks.

For more information on the Nissan Subscription Plan or to locate an authorized Nissan dealership, visit www.nissan.com.my.

No more 50 sen charge for TnG reloads at Shell Stations along PLUS Expressways (NKVE and ELITE) and East-Coast Expressways

The day when you no longer have to ‘lose’ 50 sen for every reload of the Touch ‘n Go (TnG) card is fast nearing with more and more places waiving the charge. The latest is Shell Malaysia which has announced that all its stations along the PLUS Expressways (NKVE and ELITE) and the East-Coast Expressway (ECE) will no longer charge the 50 sen.

The broader expansion to all stations along these expressways is an addition to Shell’s recent initiative in waiving the TnG top-up fee at all stations along the North-South Expressway (NSE) earlier in January. As part of Shell’s effort, the expansion to the number of stations from the earlier initiative also includes 25 other Shell stations at various locations nationwide.

“Shell understands the challenge Malaysians face against the rising cost of living. We know it can be difficult to save when there are increasing necessary expenses like food, transportation, utilities and education, which form a huge part of one’s expenditure. This drives us to help Malaysians save more and ultimately, get more out of their journeys. Hopefully, forgoing the Touch ‘n Go top-up charges at all stations along NSE, NKVE, ELITE, ECE, and other Shell stations will give our customers one less worry when travelling or fuelling up at Shell during long journeys,” said Shairan Huzani Husain, MD of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn Bhd.