Toyota developed the Toyota Hybrid System in 1995, but didn't introduce the Prius, Toyota's first hybrid car, in the U.S. until 2000. Since then, Toyota has sold over one million hybrids to people in the U.S. Their website says, "The 2010 Prius contains parts made from plant-derived, carbon-neutral plastics" and that these new plastics "emit less CO2 during a product lifecycle than plastics made solely from petroleum" (toyota.com). They have also introduced a new program called the Toyota Certified Used Program to make renting and leasing hybrids more affordable.
One of Toyota's major concerns is to make their products more energy efficient and environment friendly not only while they are in use, but also through disposal. Currently, their End of Life Vehicle (ELV) recycling/recovery rate is over 90%, but they hope for it to rise to 95% by 2015 (toyota.com). Their researchers and biotech engineers are developing next-generation batteries and second-generation biodiesel fuel to aid in the pursuit of a greener environment. They have already developed more efficient methods of producing ethanol from wood waste rather than food crops and are researching ways to use solar power and other sources of clean energy along with biofuels to make cars that produce zero carbon dioxide emissions (toyota.com). Toyota is also marketing a flex-fuel vehicle that can run on up to 100% biofuel.
With the strides that Toyota is taking to help our environment, it comes as no surprise that their dealerships and manufacture plants have received numerous LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) awards throughout the years. With leaders like Toyota, it has become easy to envision a better environment.
Dear Mallory,
ReplyDeleteThe subject of this blog makes some corporations, like Toyota actually look good. You did a good job portraying their purpose, and plan for future references. Also, you included reliable sources that relate to the subject.
"With the strides that Toyota is taking to help our environment, it comes as no surprise that their dealerships and manufacture plants have received numerous LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) awards throughout the years." You took information that looked into the future of this corporation and showed that they want better for the environment. I agree with this statement because Toyota is a perfect example of a good corporation.
Thank you for writing this blog. It allowed me to understand the company of Toyota better, and made me aware of what types of car I might drive in the future. It also brings Toyota back into competition after the recall incident they had not too long ago.
-Oryx
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDear Corporation Roles,
ReplyDeleteI think what Toyota is doing with being so environmentally healthy is great. I knew that their cars were good on gas mileage and that they also have hybrids, but I didn’t know exactly how great the Prius was to the environment. With all the negative things being said about Toyotas these days, this is definitely a positive aspect.
“Currently, their End of Life Vehicle (ELV) recycling/recovery rate is over 90%, but they hope for it to rise to 95% by 2015.” Wow, that’s amazing for a vehicle and should be a model for all other vehicles in the future. Humans need to start thinking now about the damages that we’re causing to the environment, not waiting 10 years to find out what will happen.
“With leaders like Toyota, it has become easy to envision a better environment.” This is true, if every car was as recyclable, great on gas mileage, and environmentally healthy, we could make this a much better Earth. Hopefully, in the future we will see more cars like the Prius.
Thank you for this blog. I learned more about the Prius than I thought I knew. Your interesting blogs will keep me coming back!
-Bunting