Toyota Environmental Update

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Toyota Environmental Update

06/07/2006
Thirty-eighth issue, June 2006

Camry Hybrid and Yaris: two new Toyota cars tread more lightly on Planet Earth
Camry Hybrid with Hybrid Synergy Drive® and the subcompact Yaris are now on sale at Toyota dealerships. Camry Hybrid has an EPA estimated gas mileage rating of 40 mpg/38 mpg highway. Its powertrain features a 2.4-liter 147-hp four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine, a continuously variable transmission, and a high-torque 40-hp electric motor.

Camry Hybrid has been EPA certified as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV), just one of a handful of cars to meet this high standard.

Yaris sedan and liftback models feature a 1.5-liter "variable valve timing with intelligence" (VVT-i) engine. Estimated EPA mileage ratings are 34 mpg city/40 mpg highway with manual transmission, and 34/39 with automatic. Yaris is rated by the ULEV II Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle, one of the EPA's cleanest ratings.

Awards: for hybrid powertrain, sustainability, and reduction in use of energy
For the third consecutive year, Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain has won the International Engine of the Year award as best 1.4- to 1.8-litre engine and Best Fuel Economy for its application in the Prius. The judges were 61 automotive journalists from 29 countries.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has honored Toyota with its Track-Maker Award for "leadership in corporate actions to promote sustainability."

Toyota Plaza, a portion of Toyota's Torrance, California headquarters campus, has won a second Flex Your Power award from California's statewide energy efficiency campaign. Toyota was recognized for cutting electricity use by 1.5 million kWh—more than 45% since 2000. Toyota used electronic lighting ballasts, window tinting, automated controls, and other methods to reduce power consumption.

Toyota Associates and community recycle e-waste on Earth Day
As part of the 2006 Earth Day celebrations, Toyota Associates recycled about 10 tons of electronic waste—a 30% increase over last year. More than 750 community visitors dropped off another 40 tons of electronic equipment. Recycled components will stay out of landfills and provide material for new products.

At Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada's Earth Day Family Event, visitors got a close-up look at wild birds at Toyota Nature Center's Wild Bird Clinic and participated in the planting of native vegetation.

Toyota supports environmental education in Kentucky
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America has donated $50,000 to Kentucky's Newport Aquarium's nonprofit arm, the WAVE Foundation. The funds will be used to subsidize Aquatic Adventures, the life science portion of the NavOps Deep Submergence program of the National Submarine Science Discovery Center. Fifth- and sixth-graders will learn about the
dependence of all living organisms on water through aquariums in classrooms plus visits to the Newport Aquarium and other locations.

Toyota reduces environmental impact in Canada
Based on suggestions by more than 2,500 Associates,Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada has significantly reduced waste and environmental impact. Torque tracking sheets are now sent and stored electronically rather than printed out, eliminating nearly 30 kg of paper. Optimization of truck routes has reduced CO2 emissions by 600 kg per day. Replacing flat-bottom tanks with sloped-bottom tanks and using sponges rather than water for cleaning have decreased water use during the inspection process by 94%. Emissions have been lowered more than 20% since 2004 with innovations that include using electrostatic spray guns, reclaiming solvents, installing failsafe valves to prevent leaks and overflows, and reprogramming robots to use paint and solvents more efficiently.

For information, contact Cindy Knight at (310) 468-2170 or cindy_knight@toyota.com. Produced by Robert Oberhand & Assoc., Chatsworth, CA, in conjunction with Toyota Corporate Communications Department.