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Old Toyota Camry Hybrid batteries find new life in Yellowstone

Beginning this fall, used hybrid batteries that would otherwise be recycled will get a second life in Yellowstone National Park. 208 nickel-metal hydride batteries are being retired from the Toyota Camry Hybrids they once helped power and will become part of an off-the-grid energy system at Yellowstone's remote Lamar Buffalo Ranch field campus. The Lamar campus provides field seminars and other education and research in the northeastern corner of the park. The energy stored in the battery packs will come from solar panels and micro-hydro turbines. The total storage capacity of the batteries is 85 kWh, which is sufficient to provide plenty of emissions-free power to the five buildings at the field campus. Toyota says this program essentially doubles the life of the batteries that are no longer suitable for driving. It's great to see the batteries get another life cycle before recycling, especially in a place where wild animals easily outnumbers the cars. The battery project is part of a larger partnership between Toyota and Yellowstone. Toyota has previously donated a RAV4 and $50,000 to support sustainability projects at the park. In addition to the energy system being implemented at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch, Toyota has taken part in similar energy projects. Beginning last year, Toyota dealers in Japan have been using hybrid batteries for power storage. Also, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama is testing a system to use hybrid batteries to power operations and for emergency backup power. Learn more in the press release from Toyota below. Buffalo and Bears and Batteries – Oh My! Toyota Brings Power to Yellowstone National Park June 04, 2014 Yellowstone...Where the Deer and the Antelope and the Prius Play Torrance, Calif. (June 4, 2014) – The nation's oldest National Park is ready for some new power. Toyota Camry hybrid batteries will soon power the Lamar Buffalo Ranch field campus in Yellowstone National Park. It's a new lease on life for the batteries and new, zero emission, energy option for the Park. Now that's a "bear-able" solution! The stationary distributed energy system will feature 208 used Camry Hybrid nickel-metal hydride battery packs and a total storage capacity of 85 kWh, more than enough pluck to power the five buildings on the Ranch field campus.

Toyota again claims Corolla outsold Focus worldwide

Toyota isn't convinced the Ford Focus was the best-selling nameplate globally last year. Bloomberg reports that for the second time in seven months, both Toyota and Ford are laying claim to the title. Ford cites R.L. Polk & Co. data that says the automaker moved some 1.02 million Focus models in 2012 compared to just 872,774 Toyota Corolla units. But Toyota says the actual figure is closer to 1.16 million Corolla models.
Last year, Ford said it took the sales crown through the fist half of 2012 based on information from IHS Automotive, but Toyota pointed out those numbers left out models like the Corolla-based Matrix and Auris, as well as the Corolla Fielder and Scion xB-based Corolla Rumion. Whether or not Toyota's belief that all these cars should be counted in the Corolla bucket is accurate or not is seemingly up for debate... as is the question of why it matters so much to both parties.
This time around, Ford is holding the line that the Focus is the "best-selling nameplate," with Erich Merkle, a US sales analyst with Ford saying the company's figure is, "a pure number that is verified by a third party." Toyota, meanwhile, has requested clarification from Polk.

Toyota Camry to go turbo

As automakers strive to meet regulations, turbocharging is rapidly becoming the norm whether looking at pickups, sports cars or family sedans. However, Toyota remains a stalwart to the changing tide, and for the time being a trip into one of the brand's dealers shows nary a hint of forced induction – probably not for long, though. With models like the Lexus NX 200t and forthcoming IS 200t pointing the way, a big shift is afoot for one of the Japanese automaker's most popular products. Obviously, Toyota is no stranger to forced induction for performance applications like the turbocharged models of the Supra and MR2 in the '90s. But rather than reducing lap times, the latest application is more about improving emissions and fuel economy. According to Automotive News, the Camry is getting a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder in the near future as a replacement for its V6 engine option. The 3.5-liter six currently in the venerable sedan already makes 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque, versus 235 hp and 258 lb-ft in the NX 200t or 241 hp and 258 lb-ft in the IS from the new four. The base four-cylinder also might receive some upgrades. It could grow larger and run on the Atkinson cycle to find improvements, according to Automotive News. There might be a move towards CVTs, as well. Toyota is hardly alone in the shift towards forced induction. Honda is known to have a 1.5-liter turbo mill on the way for the next-gen Civic. In addition, that engine might find its way into the Accord and CR-V as well, according to Automotive News. Among the major Japanese automakers, only Nissan is taking a more measured approach towards forced induction in mainstream models. Rather than going all-in on turbos, the company is expected to shift more of its engines to direct injection to go after fuel economy gains.