Toyota drives EV recycling in crucial race to save planet
As electric vehicle (EV) adoption gains ground in the Philippines, Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation is ramping up efforts to address an often-overlooked aspect of the shift: What happens to these vehicles at the end of their lives.
In March, Toyota brought En Tsumugi ELV Dismantler Corporation, its pioneering dismantling facility partner in the Philippines, to Japan for specialized training in battery dismantling, storage and recycling.
En Tsumugi, based in Mexico, Pampanga, is one of two model end-of-life vehicle (ELV) dismantling facilities in the Philippines recognized by Toyota. It is also the fourth such facility in Southeast Asia.
The training, held March 17 to March 18 at Toyota Metal Co., Ltd. in Aichi, also brought together participants from Thailand. It covered dismantling procedures, safety protocols, storage and handling systems. It also included emergency response measures, alongside modules on battery collection and material recovery.
It formed part of the Toyota-led “Global 100 Dismantlers Project,” which aims to build a worldwide network of properly managed facilities for vehicle recycling and resource recovery.
Now, why the need for these recycling efforts? Studies show that EVs can carry higher emissions during manufacturing and disposal, although overall lifecycle emissions remain lower than those of conventional gasoline vehicles.
As such, recycling—particularly of batteries—helps cut the carbon footprint of future production by reducing the need for new raw materials.
Japan, where the training was held, has also been advancing battery sustainability efforts, including the rollout of an EV battery traceability system to promote recycling.
Elsewhere, battery circularity is gaining traction.
Data from the International Energy Agency and the European Patent Office show that patent registrations related to battery circularity grew 42 percent from 2017 to 2023, outpacing the 16-percent growth in rechargeable battery manufacturing.
‘Proactive step’
The dismantling initiative aligns with Toyota’s broader environmental targets, including its push toward carbon neutrality under its “Environmental Challenge 2050.”
Toyota Motor Philippines president Masando Hashimoto says the move signals a shift beyond simply introducing EV models into the market.
“This proactive step reflects our ‘Beyond Zero’ commitment to ensure that as we advance electrified mobility in the country through Toyota and Lexus xEVs, we are equally prepared across the entire vehicle lifecycle,” Hashimoto says.
This effort comes amid growing EV demand in the Philippines. Electrified vehicles accounted for 11.2 percent of total car sales in the first quarter, with 11,800 units sold, according to the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc.
Toyota and Lexus vehicles combined for 5,252 units, up 33.4 percent year-on-year and representing 10.6 percent of the company’s total sales.
Recognizing that the EV shift is not a fleeting trend, the Department of Trade and Industry is set to roll out an incentives program by the first half of this year to attract more EV manufacturers to invest and produce in the Philippines.
And with efforts such as Toyota’s, EV adoption in the country is poised to become not just faster, but more sustainable, too.
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