Toyota discharges duty of car

What happens to batteries in hybrid-drive vehicles at the end of their useful service life? That's a question often asked of companies marketing hybrid vehicles around the world. It is, in fact, one of the key obstacles to hybrids being seen as truly 'green'.

The currency of this very question has been renewed with the recent announcement that Toyota would commence building a hybrid Camry at the Altona plant in Melbourne's west from 2010 (more here).

Toyota has revealed a battery-recycling process that has been in place for the Prius over the last seven years and Toyota divisions around the world have such a process up and running in support of the Prius -- and other Toyota hybrids that have been introduced to those respective markets.

As for the Prius, the Camry hybrid will employ a nickel-metal hydride-type battery system, rather than the more advanced lithium-ion batteries that other manufacturers are beginning to adopt.

Battery recyclers supporting Toyota are certified to ISO14001 and are licensed by the EPA in Victoria. Prius (and other Toyota hybrid) owners will leave the dead batteries with Toyota dealers which will then transfer the batteries to the recyclers. These recyclers will strip the packs of plastic, metal and copper wire, but will export circuit boards and battery elements for further recycling.

"Toyota's hybrid batteries are designed to last the life of the vehicle," said Toyota's senior executive director sales and marketing, David Buttner.

"We have only had to replace 17 batteries in seven years; of these, three have been recycled and the rest used for research and training here and overseas."

Toyota's endeavours address one step in the path to mass-market acceptance for hybrids. Now there's just the environmental cost of producing the nickel-metal hydride batteries to overcome.

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