Toyota proves its commitment once again to building a more sustainable future. With the help of Cirba Solutions, the company expects an up to 95% critical minerals recovery rate.
Leading EV Manufacturer Pairs With Cirba Solutions to Expand Battery Recycling
Storage solutions have been the thorn in the side of EV manufacturers like Toyota from the beginning. While renewable energy sources like solar and wind power resolve potential contradictions on the energy producer’s end, all that power still needs to be stored locally.
The precious metals Toyota uses to construct its batteries, including nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion versions, are non-renewable resources. Battery recycling is the key to ensuring these essential materials live up to their full potential.
Why Cirba Solutions?
Cirba Solutions has been a leader in the battery recycling industry for over three decades. In that time, the company has helped partners and clients recycle hundreds of millions of pounds of materials.
Like Toyota, Cirba Solutions is committed to creating a more sustainable future. The company’s leaders believe in and are working toward creating a sustainable, circular supply chain that maximizes the efficient use of natural resources.
A Beautiful New Partnership
According to Christopher Yang, the vice president of Business Development for Toyota Motor North America, the new partnership with Cirba Solutions will allow the company to more efficiently recycle batteries from its many battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid vehicles.
The primary focus will be end-of-life processing of lithium-ion batteries from the East Coast and Midwest. Cirba’s conveniently located Lancaster, Ohio facility has all the advanced technology required to extract valuable minerals from EV batteries.
Currently, Toyota’s end-of-life batteries must travel an average of 1,251 mi before they reach a recycling facility. The partnership with Cirba will reduce that average to just 582 mi. This change will cut the use of additional transportation-associated resources by more than half.
What to Expect Moving Forward
Electric vehicles are becoming more popular as automakers like Toyota find ways to improve their performance and reduce manufacturing costs. That means the number of batteries that must be dismantled and processed is also rising.
Toyota collects around 25,000 used car batteries per year through its dealership network. The majority of them are nickel-metal hydride batteries found in hybrid vehicles, but lithium-ion batteries used to power battery electric cars are catching up.
The ability to efficiently recycle EV batteries will reduce the industry’s impact on the environment moving forward. Mining for lithium, nickel, and other critical minerals can disrupt often sensitive local ecosystems, Improving battery recycling protocols helps to avoid unnecessary mines.
What Can Average Drivers Do to Help?
Drivers can do their part to ensure EV batteries get routed into a recycling program by trading them in at their local Toyota dealerships. Mechanics can often replace end-of-life batteries with new ones to completely restore EV functionality.
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