Toyota Is Setting Up Better Recycling Facility for Old Batteries

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If you think everything about a hybrid car is green, you’d better think again. Batteries come with certain chemistries that will give off toxic materials to the environment if disposed of improperly. This is why hybrid and EV manufacturers need to consider ways to dispose of batteries in an eco-friendly way. Toyota has recently partnered with recycling facilities for battery-to-battery recycling process that will use materials to make new batteries.

Previously, old Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries were shipped to reduction facilities that recycle the metals into other products, such as exhaust systems and cookingware. With Toyota’s new partnership with Toyota Chemical Engineering Co., Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. and Primearth EV Energy Co., the nickel from old NiMH batteries will be recycled to make new NiMH batteries.

The recycling facility is currently limited to the Japanese market, but Toyota is planning to expand it to other markets in the future. Toyota uses NiMH chemistry batteries in various Hybrids, such as the Prius, Camry and Highlander. The facility will process NiMH batteries from hybrids manufactured 2000 onwards.