One batch of used hybrid car batteries will set the oldest National Park alight!
Toyota has donated 208 used Camry Hybrid nickel-metal hydride battery packs to be used at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch field campus in Yellowstone National Park. The batteries, which hold a total of 85 kilowatt hours, offer more than enough power to keep the campus’ five buildings powered for a year.
No longer up to the task of powering a hybrid car’s electric motor, the battery packs aren’t necessarily completely spent when they’re removed. Toyota expects putting retired batteries in a secondary service of storing power for off-the-grid locales could double the lifetime of the packs.
Without a gasoline engine or regenerative braking to keep them charged, the old hybrid batteries will rely on solar and micro-hydro turbine power to keep the lights on at the park’s historic education and research facility..
In addition to the high-tech off-the-grid power system, Toyota also donated a RAV4 SUV and $50,000 to Yellowstone’s fundraising foundation.
The new system is set to be installed this fall.
