During the first few years of Prius production Toyota came under a lot of
criticism about how bad for the environment the building and transporting
of their
most efficient car was. Considering this, many
people believed it was better for the environment to keep an old gas guzzler
than buy a new economical Prius. Toyota have taken this criticism on board
and have progressively made building the Prius more and more environmentally
friendly. But its not only their most efficient car thats been looked at.
Toyota have worked hard to make the construction of all their cars, their
buildings and their work practices as green as possible.
From 2003 to 2009 Toyota reduced their water usage for manufacturing vehicles
by 20%. They've also managed to reduce landfill waste generated by their
manufacturing plants by an impressive 96% since 1999. All Toyota's are 90%
recyclable and by 2015 the company hope to up this to 95% recyclable. Between
2001 and 2008 Toyota reduced energy consumption at their North American
non-manufacturing facilities by 26%. At their Parts Center in Ontario, California,
they've installed the second largest roof solar panel array in North America.
Toyota have the ultimate goal of sending no waste at all to landfill. Their
Portland Vehicle Distribution Center is one of their most environmentally
friendly facilities. Its 100% powered by wind energy and 99% of construction
waste was diverted from landfill.
Toyota have tried to make transportation of their most efficient car greener
by shipping the Prius on the part solar powered Auriga Leader. The ship
has 328 solar panels mounted on its deck which in ideal conditions can generate
40 kilowatts of electricity. This reduces demand on the engines thus lowering
fuel use and emissions. Toyota say, 'It is yet another example of how the
new Prius benefits from clever use of renewable energy sources throughout
its life cycle'.
All hybrid, electric and
efficient car makers will have
to make sure that they're following similar practices otherwise they'll
lose customers.