We Recycle Our Hybrid Batteries at Midtown Toyota!

We at Midtown Toyota want to explain the truth behind a common misconception that hybrid and electric vehicles could potentially create an enormous amount of garbage in the form of dead batteries. Dealerships around the US including our Oak Park Toyota dealership launched a program last year that ensures every piece of a Toyota hybrid battery pack will be recycled at the end of its use. It is estimated that hybrid/electric vehicle batteries (nickel-metal hybride battery packs) last between 7-10 years, depending on mileage and owner maintenance. While it is required by the California Air Resources board for hybrid battery packs to last at least 150,000 miles, Toyota batteries last between 150,000 and 300,000 miles. It’s estimated that about 1.3 million Toyota hybrids are in use today and about 500 hybrid battery packs expire every month. Hybrid battery packs do not instantly die. After a warning light in a Toyota vehicle signals the driver that the battery needs to be replaced, the fading battery begins limiting power to the vehicle, giving the driver ample time to get to our dealership and replace the battery.

What We Do With Dead Hybrid Batteries

Toyota sends us reusable shipping containers to send out all of our dead batteries. We ship them to Kinsbursky Bros, a recycling company based in California, where they “remove” or short the electrical current in the battery and break it down into different components. The plastic cover and shells around the battery are shredded and recycled. All of the naturally-occuring earth elements are removed and reused. The interior portion of the battery is sent to a smelting factory where the parts are recycled to make stainless steel. Thanks to Toyota and Kinsbursky Bros, we are able to make sure that every hybrid battery pack we receive is completely recycled.