Expanded Recycling Agreement and Material Sourcing
Toyota Motor North America and Redwood Materials have intensified their collaboration with an expanded recycling agreement. This alliance focuses on creating end-of-life solutions for Toyota’s hybrid and electric vehicle batteries. Additionally, Toyota plans to source critical battery components such as Cathode Active Material (CAM) and Anode copper foil from Redwood’s recycling operations, contributing to the production of new automotive batteries. This initiative builds upon the previous year’s partnership for battery collection and recycling.
Creating a Circular Battery Supply Chain
Christopher Yang, Group Vice President of Business Development at Toyota Motor North America, emphasizes the importance of this collaboration in establishing a circular supply chain. The initiative aims to refine logistics and recycling processes, enabling the reintroduction of recovered metals into Toyota’s future vehicles. The partnership is a strategic step towards a closed-loop battery ecosystem, crucial as Toyota expands its electrified vehicle offerings across North America.
Sustainable Future and Operational Improvements
Redwood Materials’ Chief Commercial Officer, Cal Lankton, highlights Toyota’s commitment to a sustainable future through responsible end-of-life vehicle management and the utilization of domestically manufactured battery components. Toyota’s expanding need for automotive battery recycling coincides with the aging of its electrified vehicle fleet, including first-generation Prius models. Redwood’s Nevada facility will play a pivotal role in supporting Toyota’s North American supply chain, enhancing sustainability and operational improvements.
Long-Term Agreements and Goals
Toyota is committed to developing a comprehensive closed-loop framework, including plans to procure CAM and copper foil from Redwood. This agreement will integrate recycled materials from Redwood into new battery production at Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina, set to commence operations in 2025. The use of recycled materials aligns with Toyota’s goals of reducing carbon footprint and focusing on domestic supply chains.
Investments in Recycling Technology and Facilities
Redwood Materials is investing significantly in technology and facility expansion to supply U.S. battery cell manufacturers and automakers with domestically produced strategic battery materials. The company’s ongoing expansions in Nevada and the upcoming Battery Materials Campus in South Carolina aim to scale production and include a significant percentage of recycled nickel, lithium, cobalt, and copper in their components. These developments are integral to Toyota’s goals of achieving carbon neutrality in global operations by 2035 and for its vehicles by 2050.
