Last autumn Toyota published its plans on how to refurbish and recycle EV batteries – directly after announcing a further investment of 5.6bil USD into EV battery production at the end of summer.
Why is this so important? What does it mean for the future of sustainable transport?
Let’s take a closer look.
Why is EV battery recycling the way forward?
Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular, thanks to their many benefits over traditional petrol and diesel cars.
They’re cheaper to run, better for the environment, and offer a smoother, quieter driving experience. However, one of the electric vehicle industry’s challenges is what to do with used batteries.
EV batteries are made up of expensive and rare materials, so it’s important that they’re recycled properly in order to recover as much value from them as possible.
That’s where Toyota comes in. The Japanese carmaker has announced plans to set up a dedicated battery recycling facility in Japan, which will be used to refurbish and recycle used EV batteries.
They’ve also been investing in the production of batteries
Toyota has started investing in the production of less toxic batteries that should come into play in five years’ time.
This is part of Toyota’s wider plan to increase its investment in electric vehicles. This involves not only releasing new models but also upgrading the currently available range of petrol or hybrid models to go fully electric by 2025 – so even old classics could be making the switch to sustainability soon. I
If you are looking to purchase a new car from the Japanese manufacturer right now, it might be worth looking into an already-used Toyota before switching to a full electric upgrade in a couple of years’ time, especially if you are more interested in some classics like the Tacoma, Corolla or RAV4.
But these visions all come with a cost. The company has said that it intends to produce enough batteries to power 1 million electric vehicles by 2030.
This is an ambitious target, but it’s one that Toyota is well-positioned to achieve. The company has a long history of innovation in sustainable transport, dating back to its development of the Prius hybrid car in 1997. Toyota is also one of the world’s leading manufacturers of electric vehicles, with over 10,000 sold last year alone.
What are Toyota’s plans for the future?
Toyota’s plans for electric vehicle battery recycling and production are part of its wider commitment to sustainability.
The company has set itself a target of reducing its emissions by 90% by 2050, and it sees electric vehicles as a key part of achieving this goal. In addition to producing more electric vehicles and recycling used batteries, Toyota is also investing in renewable energy sources such as solar power and hydrogen fuel cells.
In addition to producing more electric vehicles and recycling used batteries, Toyota is also investing in renewable energy sources such as solar power and hydrogen fuel cells.
This commitment to sustainability makes Toyota a leader in the fight against climate change and sets an example for other companies to follow suit.
