Tag: PHEV

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Toyota News

Toyota to Collaborate with Redwood Materials on a Sustainable, Closed-Loop Electrified Vehicle Battery Ecosystem

Areas include end-of-life battery solutions for its battery ecosystem, including battery collection, testing & evaluation, remanufacturing, recycling and battery materials production

PLANO, Texas and CARSON CITY, Nev. (June 21, 2022) – Toyota Motor North America (Toyota), as part of its commitment to reduce its environmental footprint year after year and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, has embarked on a mission to create a sustainable, closed-loop battery ecosystem for its electrified powertrains. This mission focuses not only on the collection, testing and recycling of batteries into raw materials to create a sustainable supply chain, but also aims to develop second-life opportunities for remanufactured and repurposed Toyota hybrid electric vehicle batteries by leveraging battery health screening tools and empowering data from its vehicles.

In connection with these goals, Toyota and Redwood Materials (Redwood) will explore a series of end-of-life battery solutions for Toyota’s proposed battery ecosystem. Initially, this collaboration will focus on the collection, testing and recycling of Toyota hybrid electric vehicle batteries. The companies will then look to expand into other areas such as battery health screening and data management, remanufacturing and battery material supply throughout North America.

“We are excited to be working with Redwood Materials to identify solutions for our electrified powertrains at the end-of-life that contributes to our vision of creating a sustainable, circular battery ecosystem,” said Christopher Yang, group vice president of Business Development at Toyota. “We are committed to developing sustainable solutions that allow our batteries to provide value beyond the initial lifecycle in an electrified vehicle. This also contributes to our carbon neutrality goals and our mission to build a more sustainable world for all.”

Redwood Materials is driving down the environmental footprint and cost of lithium-ion batteries by offering large-scale sources of domestic anode and cathode materials produced from recycled batteries. Redwood receives more than ~6 GWh of end-of-life batteries annually for recycling, which are then refined and remanufactured into critical battery materials. The company plans to ramp production of anode and cathode components in the US to 100 GWh annually by 2025, enough to produce more than one million electric vehicles a year. Together, Toyota and Redwood will investigate ways to seamlessly incorporate battery recycling through domestic battery materials manufacturing into Toyota’s battery production strategy, beginning with North America.

“Toyota helped pave the way for clean transportation with the introduction of the Toyota Prius more than 20 years ago. Their commitment not only to sell millions of electrified vehicles this decade but to ensure their circularity into the future is a critical step for electrification,” said JB Straubel, Redwood Materials founder and CEO. “Redwood and Toyota’s shared vision to drive down the environmental footprint and cost of transportation will continue to accelerate the adoption and access to electric vehicles.”

Toyota’s production plans include new and increased automotive battery production in the United States. Recently Toyota announced an investment of $1.29 billion in a new North American battery plant, Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina (TBMNC). When completed, TBMNC is anticipated to produce battery packs for 1.2 million electrified vehicles per year. Toyota expects to sell eight million electrified vehicles globally by 2030 and invest $70B in their development.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 39,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 32 million cars and trucks at our nine manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 10th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.  With the more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, a quarter of the company’s 2021 U.S. sales were electrified.

To help inspire the next generation for a career in STEM-based fields, including mobility, Toyota launched its virtual education hub at www.TourToyota.com with an immersive experience and chance to virtually visit many of our U.S. manufacturing facilities. The hub also includes a series of free STEM-based lessons and curriculum through Toyota USA Foundation partners, virtual field trips and more. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

About Redwood Materials

Redwood Materials is creating a circular supply chain to drive down the environmental footprint and cost of lithium-ion batteries and the electric vehicles and sustainable energy storage systems they power. Founded by JB Straubel, the Nevada-based company is offering large-scale sources of domestic anode and cathode materials produced from recycled batteries. Redwood receives more than ~6 GWh of end-of-life batteries annually for recycling, which are then refined and remanufactured into critical battery materials. The company plans to ramp production of anode and cathode components in the US to 100 GWh annually by 2025, enough to produce more than one million electric vehicles a year.

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New Toyota Vehicle

The Definitive Guide to EV Charging

A lady charging her electric vehicle at an EV charging station.
A lady charging her electric vehicle at an EV charging station.

The Definitive Guide to EV Charging

There are Levels to This

Ever since the first car was produced in 1886, internal combustion engines have been the driving force of vehicles. However, the search for an alternative has been underway for just as long and finally, we have an answer. Electric vehicles with electric motors.

Now, when most folks think of electric vehicles they imagine some futuristic-looking vehicle that will leave them stranded on the side of the highway with dead batteries — this couldn’t be more of a myth!

Electric vehicles, or EVs, have come a long way since the 1870s. They’re stylish, powerful, exciting to drive and most of all — reliable. Despite advances in EV technology, many people still doubt their practicality and cite range anxiety and lack of charging infrastructure.

This definitive guide to EV charging will teach you everything you need to know about EV charging, including how simple it is. Give this a quick read and then make sure to pay a visit to Toyota of Abilene to check out the electrifying bZ4X.

Level 1 Charging

The most accessible level of charging, Level 1 charging stations allow you to charge your EV by plugging it into your household 120V outlet. This means you’ll be able to use your vehicle’s charger on any outlet in your residence, making charging a breeze.

Commonly referred to as “trickle charging”, level 1 is the slowest charging method available for EVs albeit one of the most convenient. You will see around four miles of range added to the vehicle each hour when using level 1 charging.

With a slow charging time, Level 1 is best utilized when you’re able to let your EV charge up overnight. That being said, there are a few other methods of charging that are faster if you’re in a rush, keep Abilene to find out what they are.

Level 2 Charging

One of the most common forms of EV charging, Level 2 charging can be found in both residential and public areas. It provides a much quicker charge than Level 1 chargers, adding up to 12-30 miles of range per hour. A full charge can be completed in 6-12 hours — depending on battery size — when using a Level 2 charger.

If you want a Level 2 charger at your home, it is plenty doable as long as you have an available 240V outlet. In the event you don’t have a 240V outlet, you must have one professionally installed before you are able to take advantage of Level 2 charging.

While most electric vehicles come with a Level 1 charging cable included, Level 2 chargers come at an extra cost. Simply ask your sales professional for pricing on a Level 2 charging cable and they should be able to provide you with one at delivery.

Looking to have a Level 2 charger installed at your house? Companies like ChargePoint and QMerit can help! Having a Level 2 charger installed at home will not only save you time but some money as well. In some cases, you may even be able to claim tax benefits for owning an EV and investing in a charger, refer to your local tax code for more info.

Level 3 Charging

Often referred to as DC Fast Charging, high-powered Level 3 chargers are only found at public charging stations across the country. They are the fastest and most-efficient way to charge your EV, as they add around 3-15 miles every minute!

Level 3 charging uses powerful direct current (DC) power, which is not found in residential areas as they use alternating current (AC). This means you won’t be able to have a Level 3 charging station at home, but if you do some Googling you may find one nearby.

The best benefit of Level 3 charging stations is their ability to charge your EV battery up to 80% capacity in a matter of minutes. This makes charging up during lunch break or while running errands a breeze and allows you to live a range-anxiety-free life.

As the popularity of EV’s continues to grow, you’ll start to see more and more Level 3 public charging stations popping up across the country. If you already own an EV, chances are you know all of your local charging stations — but if you don’t — check out Plugshare.

Stations Near You

Looking for somewhere to charge near you? No sweat, we took the time and did the research for you. If you’re in the Abilene area and need to charge your EV, we’ve put together a shortlist of available public charging stations. Check out what we found:

While this list doesn’t have every charging station in Abilene on it, it’s a great starting point for EV owners in Abilene. As time goes on and more people adopt electric vehicles, charging infrastructure should start to increase — so keep an eye out!

Charged Up and Ready to Go

Now that you know all there is to know about charging an EV, making the switch doesn’t seem so scary now, does it? Despite what your octane-loving, mechanic cousin may say, electric vehicles truly are the future. With more home-charging options available and increasing public charging infrastructure, range anxiety is nothing more than a myth.

Whether you opt for a home charging station or you rely on public infrastructure, switching to an EV is the best option for the planet and your wallet. Owning an EV not only saves you at the pump it also saves you on repair bills too, as they require less maintenance than traditional cars.

Are you ready to make the switch to an electric vehicle? Then Toyota of Abilene can help! At Toyota of Abilene, we have Abilene’s best selection of Toyota vehicles, including the new bZ4X. Whether you’re switching to an EV or sticking with a traditional engine — if you want the best prices on Toyota vehicles — shop at Toyota of Abilene.

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Toyota News

Toyota to Debut Three New Electrified Vehicles for U.S. Market

Toyota to Debut Three New Electrified Vehicles for U.S. Market

Portfolio will add two Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV)

Internal research shows BEV and PHEV models have similar environmental benefits

Latest Environmental Action Plan pursues targets in support of Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050

Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) announced plans to debut in the U.S. market this year, three new electrified models – two BEVs and a PHEV.

“We continue to be leaders in electrification that began with our pioneering introduction of the Prius nearly 25 years ago,” said Bob Carter, TMNA executive vice president of sales. “Toyota’s new electrified product offerings will give customers multiple choices of powertrain that best suits their needs.”

The new electrified models further expand Toyota’s U.S. leadership in alternative powertrain vehicles. Toyota has over 40% share of the total alternative fuel vehicle market, which includes a 75% share of the fuel cell market and a 64% share of hybrids and plug-ins. By 2025, Toyota’s goal is to have 40% of new vehicle sales be electrified models, and by 2030 expects that to increase to nearly 70%.

Globally, Toyota hybrid vehicles sold have avoided an estimated 139 million tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) into the atmosphere. In the U.S., we have avoided approximately 38 million tons of GHG. This achievement is the result of Toyota’s long-standing commitment to the environment and creating a net positive impact on the planet and society.

Between now and 2025, Toyota and Lexus models, globally, will have an electrified option. Toyota is also developing a dedicated BEV platform, e-TNGA, that offers flexibility for all drive configurations. These initiatives are further steps toward achieving the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050, introduced in 2015, the most demanding and most inspiring environmental commitments Toyota has ever made.

“We believe the fastest way to lower greenhouse gases in the transportation sector is to offer drivers lower carbon choices that meet their needs,” said Gill Pratt, chief scientist of Toyota Motor Corporation and CEO of Toyota Research Institute. “At every price point and with multiple powertrains, we can put more people in cleaner automobiles across North America to have the greatest near-term impact on total carbon emissions.”

Toyota shared highlights of new internal research evaluating the environmental impact and cost of ownership between a PHEV and a BEV. For this research, Toyota created a tool that shows the trade-off between GHG Emissions and Total Cost of Ownership. The source code for this tool is publicly available at carghg.org for others to experiment with the various input parameters and see the movement of BEVs and PHEVs on the GHG and cost plot. The research found:

  • GHG of a currently available BEV model and PHEV model are roughly the same in on-road performance when factoring in pollutants created by electricity production for the average U.S. energy grid used to charge batteries.
  • Manufacturing is a component of GHG emissions. Using the “Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies” (GREET) model, researchers found that the production of a PHEV emits less GHG since it uses a smaller, lighter weight battery.
  • The PHEV is much less expensive to buy and own, compared to the BEV. Without any incentives, the five-year Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of a long-range BEV is significantly higher than the PHEV. If you include incentives available this year (2020), the TCO of a long-range BEV is much higher.

The key point is that a BEV and PHEV can provide similar environmental benefits. Each has a unique profile and can be an optimal solution in different circumstances. By having a diversified product portfolio with multiple forms of vehicle electrification, Toyota can let consumers choose the model that best suits their usage needs and cost profile while maximizing the total contribution to GHG reduction.

Toyota’s progress on Challenge 2050 in North America is measured across four key areas – reducing carbon emissions, conserving water, fostering a sustainable supply chain including waste reduction, and protecting biodiversity. Sustainability planning, strategies and actions are driven by an annual North American Environmental Action Plan, with a five-year roadmap modeled to achieve targets in Challenge 2050 and also the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  Toyota is currently targeting:

  • Reduction in CO2 from the company’s operations, products and vehicle lifecycle – including logistics, suppliers and dealers
  • Reduction in overall water use per unit of vehicle production by 3% from a 2020 baseline
  • Reduction of procurement of plastic packaging materials by 25% from a 2018 baseline
  • Development of third party validated onsite habitat management policy by 2021 and begin implementation in 2022.

As proof of its commitment, Toyota recently agreed to purchase power from a future Clearway Energy Group wind farm to reduce its overall carbon footprint from electricity used from the power grid. Toyota also provided an annual update toward having a net positive environmental impact in the 2020 North American Environmental Report.

Source Article: https://pressroom.toyota.com/toyota-to-debut-three-new-electrified-vehicles-for-u-s-market/