2003 Toyota Tacoma Pre Runner Crew Cab Pickup 4-door 2.7l Great Car on 2040-cars

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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 and Lexus recall models for inadvertent airbag deployment

The Basics: Toyota will recall 320,000 examples in the US of the 2003-2006 Land Cruiser, 2004-2006 4Runner, 2005-2006 Tundra and Sequoia, 2003-2006 Lexus LX470, and 2004-2006 GX470. The Problem: The curtain shield airbags that come down from the roof can inadvertently deploy shortly after vehicle startup. This is due to improper programming of the airbag control module. Injuries/Deaths: "Toyota is not aware of any crashes caused by the condition. We have received reports alleging injuries such as abrasions and ringing in ears," company spokesperson Cindy Knight told Autoblog. The Fix: Toyota and Lexus dealers will replace the airbag control module with a new part, which will have improved programming. If You Own One: Toyota and Lexus will notify affected owners by mail early this month. Related Video: Toyota and Lexus Recall Certain Land Cruiser, 4Runner, Tundra, Sequoia, LX, and GX Vehicles February 02, 2016 TORRANCE, Calif., February 2, 2016 – Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. today announced that it is conducting a safety recall of approximately 320,000 Model Year 2003-2006 Land Cruiser; 2004-2006 4Runner; 2005-2006 Tundra and Sequoia; 2003-2006 LX 470; and 2004-2006 GX 470 vehicles. The involved vehicles are equipped with side Curtain-Shield-Airbags (CSAs) which deploy from the roof in the event of certain types of crashes. Due to improper programming in the airbag control modules, there is a possibility that, under certain specific and limited conditions shortly after startup, the CSAs and seat belt pretensioners could activate when not necessary. Unexpected activation of the CSAs could increase the risk of injury to the occupant. All known owners of the involved vehicles will be notified by first class mail. Toyota and Lexus dealers will replace the airbag control module with one which has an improved programming at no cost to owners. Information about automotive recalls, including but not limited to the list of involved vehicles, is subject to change over time. For the most up-to-date Safety Recall information on Lexus, Toyota and Scion customers should check their vehicle's status by visiting http://www.toyota.com/recall and entering the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Safety Recall inquiry by individual VIN is also available at the NHTSA site: safercar.gov/vin. For any additional questions, customer support is also available by calling Toyota Customer Service at 1-800-331-4331 or Lexus Customer Service at 1-800-255-3987.

Toyota sells six of 10 of hybrids in California

In an apparent shot back at Ford's increasing market share of electrified vehicles and claim that it accepts more Prius trade-ins for its own hybrids than any other car, Toyota has flexed a muscle and played the numbers game to put the Blue Oval in its place.
Leaning on its hybrid market dominance in California, the Japanese automaker stated that six out of 10 hybrids sold in the Golden State are Toyota models. And it keeps coming: Year-to-date through May 2013, Toyota sold five times more hybrids than Ford. One of every two hybrids in California is a Prius model. In addition, Toyota notes that it has sold 1.5 million Prius vehicles in the US, 90-percent of which are still on the road today.
Want more? We'll let Bill Fay, Toyota's group vice president and general manager of sales lay the smack down: