Summary
- Toyota to receive $4.5 million in federal funding for research into automating the teardown and rebuilding of used EV battery packs
- Project aims to create a domestic circular supply chain for EV batteries emphasizing reuse and recycling
- Toyota aims to automate the pack disassembly process, create diagnostic tools, and develop a re-fabrication process
- Toyota partnership with Redwood Materials to recycle Prius batteries through automotive recyclers
- Other recipients of CIRCULAR funding include the University of Colorado and BMW who are seeking to automate the process of battery pack disassembly
Article
Toyota has secured $4.5 million in federal funding from the Energy Department’s ARPA-E for research aimed at automating the process of tearing down and rebuilding used electric vehicle battery packs for reuse. The project, known as CIRCULAR, seeks to create a circular supply chain for EV batteries by emphasizing reuse and recycling of materials. Toyota aims to address the bottleneck in the reuse process, which involves slow disassembly and sorting of materials, by developing an automated pack disassembly process and diagnostic tools to classify recovered cells and modules.
The research project will be overseen by Toyota’s Toyota Research Institute of North America (TRINA) and aims to turn recovered components into new energy systems. Toyota is one of 13 recipients of CIRCULAR funding and is among several organizations working towards automating the process of battery pack disassembly. University of Colorado received $1.8 million to test the use of humanoid robots and robot arms for disassembling battery packs, while BMW was awarded $4.4 million to develop a battery pack designed for rapid, robotic disassembly without compromising structural integrity or energy density.
The goal of automating the teardown and rebuilding process for EV battery packs is to extend their lifespan and reduce the need for recycling, ultimately lowering the CO2 footprint of products. Batteries from a range of electric vehicles are already being repurposed for second-life uses, further emphasizing the importance of efficient battery reuse processes. Toyota’s partnership with Redwood Materials is also focused on recycling Prius batteries through automotive recyclers across the country, contributing to a more sustainable approach to battery disposal and reuse.
Redwood Materials, the company partnering with Toyota on battery recycling efforts, has received a significant $2 billion loan from the Energy Department, highlighting the importance of developing more efficient and sustainable practices for handling EV batteries. By making EV battery packs easier to disassemble in the future, Toyota’s research project could positively impact both reuse and recycling efforts in the industry. The collaboration between Toyota and Redwood Materials underscores the need for coordinated efforts to address the growing challenge of managing used electric vehicle batteries.
In addition to the funding from ARPA-E, Toyota’s research project aligns with the broader industry trend towards developing more sustainable practices for handling EV batteries. By automating the process of disassembling and reusing battery packs, Toyota aims to contribute to a more circular supply chain for EV batteries, promoting the reuse and recycling of materials. With support from the government and partnerships with companies like Redwood Materials, Toyota is at the forefront of efforts to create a more sustainable approach to managing used electric vehicle batteries, ultimately reducing environmental impact and promoting a circular economy.
Read the full article here
