Is Toyota Really Giving Up On Electric Vehicle?

Last year, Toyota announced a collaboration with Redwood Materials to create a closed-loop battery recycling solution. This started with collecting and recycling Toyota’s hybrid batteries. Now, the partnership is expanding – Toyota will source cathode and anode materials from Redwood for their upcoming North Carolina battery manufacturing plant.  

This represents the first time an automaker is both recycling old hybrid batteries and using those recycled materials in new EV batteries. Redwood aims to produce cathode and anode, which make up most of a battery’s cost, domestically with increasing amounts of recycled content. For Toyota, Redwood is targeting minimums of 20% recycled nickel, 20% recycled lithium, and 50% recycled cobalt in the cathode and 100% recycled copper in the anode.

Toyota is both recycling end-of-life hybrid electric vehicle batteries, like those used in the Toyota Prius, and then returning those same recycled metals into that same automaker’s batteries for use in future electrified and all-electric vehicles.

Redwood plans to invest billions of dollars scaling up to 100 GWh annual cathode and anode production at facilities in Nevada and South Carolina. Ramping up a domestic supply chain using locally recycled materials is the best way to meet U.S. electrification goals. Toyota working with Redwood shows they are seriously thinking about EVs despite pushing hybrids publicly.

OUR THOUGHTS

Publicly, Toyota has been pushing more hybrids to consumers while talking down pure EVs. But their partnership with Redwood suggests Toyota is secretly plotting an EV comeback. If so, Tesla needs to stay on their toes and keep innovating. 

Tesla has led in EV innovation so far, but they need to keep refreshing their lineup and launching exciting new models. Just as people love new shiny tech gadgets, car buyers crave the latest sleek and exciting EVs. Toyota is coming for Tesla’s EV crown – to keep it, Tesla must wow consumers with a constant stream of cutting-edge and visually appealing new EVs.

More Articles for You

The Little Car That Could: MINI Conquers The U.S.

Small cars like the MINI have always been a tough sell in the United States, where they’re typically seen as …

BYD Celebrates Production Of 13 millionth New Energy Vehicle

BYD, the world’s leading new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer, has officially become the first car manufacturer globally to reach the …

Only In The UK: Unexceptional Festival Selects Skoda Favorit As Winner 

The 11th Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional took place at Grimsthorpe Castle on Saturday, once again attracting thousands of guests …

New Subaru Forester Debuts In Indonesia With Malaysia Launch Expected Soon

It’s been a while coming, but the all-new 6th generation Subaru Forester has just debuted at the current 2025 Gaikindo …

Porsche Awarded Most Appealing Brand In U.S. By J.D. Power

It’s a big year for Porsche in America. The German brand has just been ranked number one in the premium …

Details Finally Revealed On New MG IM5 And MG IM6

Established in 1924, MG is one of the world’s best-known automotive brands. Renowned for its affordable, exciting, innovative and stylish …