Marque targets circular economy

Toyota Motor Corporation is seeking to promote a range of activities that create a circular economy for the batteries used in its electric vehicles (EV) as part of the company’s broader aim of achieving carbon neutrality.

The Japanese carmaker says its efforts in this space include reducing waste generation by developing batteries that are resource-efficient and long-lasting during their first phase of life powering vehicles. 

After that, the batteries can be rebuilt for a second life in either automotive or non-automotive applications, such as energy storage systems. 

“Finally, when it is determined the batteries have reached their end-of-life stage,” explains Toyota, “the company aims to recycle them in a sustainable way that mitigates the amount of carbon dioxide emitted and allows as much material as possible to be used as stock feed for new battery production.”

To company has chosen the name “Battery 3R” for its circular economy work, with the three R’s representing reduce, rebuilt/reuse and recycle.

Toyota will work with various partners worldwide on the strategy and hopes its efforts will support vehicle development and contribute to local communities.

As part of its environmental action plan, which has set targets for 2025, it will focus on introducing and implementing Battery 3R throughout five regions ― Japan, the US, Europe, China and Asia.

The company also aims to maximise the collection and detoxification of end-of-life batteries globally over the same timeframe.

Initiatives already under way include Jera Co and Toyota building a large-capacity sweep energy storage system in Japan that uses the drive batteries of used EVs and is connected to the power grid. 

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings and the carmaker have also developed a stationary storage battery system that is being tested at a wind farm.

In North America, Toyota and Redwood Materials recently announced an expanded recycling agreement that aims to create pathways for Toyota’s EV batteries that have reached the end of their first life. 

An additional deal was also entered into for Toyota to source cathode active material and anode copper foil from Redwood's recycling activities for Toyota’s future automotive battery production.