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Toyota Prius hybrid sales have tanked: here are 4 reasons why

In case you can't open the link or are just too lazy to read it, here's the 4 reasons:

1. Low gas prices.
2. Higher mpg overall in many vehicles compared to to a few years ago.
3. Non-plugin hybrids available in many shapes and forms from many automakers now, so Prius feels less special in this regard.
4. The polarizing design of the Gen 4 Prius. Some love it, some hate it.

So, what are your thoughts on it?

Toyota: Negative On Batteries Because It Has More Experience Than Any Other Maker

Investigative PriusChat members had already gathered that the 4th gen 2016 Prius would be revealed in September at the Frankfurt Auto Show, but we also now know that Toyota is doing a US-based reveal on September 8th in Las Vegas, thanks to Automotive News.

I'll be on-site for the reveal and will be sure to have lots of content to share with the PriusChat community.

This is basically a Coles' Notes version of "The Prius That Shook The World" (a book that should be read by any Prius enthusiast).

Part 1:
The Story Behind the Birth of the Prius, Part 1 | TOYOTA Global Newsroom

Part 2:
The Story Behind the Birth of the Prius, Part 2 | TOYOTA Global Newsroom



It is not a stretch to say that for many people, the word "Prius" comes to mind when they hear the word "hybrid." The Prius has become so widely known that it is nearly synonymous with hybrid cars.

But what's the story behind the Prius? Just how did this revolution in car-making begin?

We spoke to Satoshi Ogiso, the only person to have worked on the Prius from the project planning stage all the way through to the current fourth generation. He told us about what led to the development of the very first Prius.

G21: It all...

Toyota is still plugging away at Fuel Cell technology, and is not willing to let a lack of styling get in the way of making it a success. The new Mirai is a beauty, for sure, with lines and features that are very reminiscent of Tesla. Built on the Lexus LS platform, the 2G Mirai will be lower to the ground, wider, and longer.

Toyota's working hard on the technical capabilities of the vehicle, too, with the 2021 model gaining 30% range over the first generation. Not many other details were released, so enjoy a press release from Toyota and the photos of this beauty. It was extremely hard to photograph at the reveal event, so I'm including both the stock photos from Toyota and a few that I snapped.

...

From Robert LLewellyn and Fully Charged, this is a great bit of animation to send to someone that argues which pollutes more, the ICE or EVs.

Several companies are claiming that they are near solid-state battery breakthrough. However, QuantumScape is currently the only one with actual data presented. We will see who will eventually win the war.

In any case the current lithium-ion battery technology will be obsolete in about a half decade, as it has many problems—slow charging, capacity loss, fire hazard, low power density, etc. Solid-state batteries will exclusively power the EVs of the very near future.

A Discussion of QuantumScape’s Battery Technology Performance Results

The Leaders in the Race to Build a Better EV Battery - WSJ

Now, who is investing in these hot stocks?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/the-greenest-car-in-america-isn-t-an-ev/ar-BB1j2nwl

If you try to imagine a “green” car, an electric vehicle is probably the first thing that comes to mind. A silent motor with tons of torque; no fumes, gasoline smells, or air pollution belching from an exhaust pipe. Last year, U.S. consumers had over 50 EV models to choose from, up from about 30 the year before.

But a new report from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy suggests that the “greenest” car in America may not be fully electric. The nonprofit group, which has rated the pollution from vehicles for decades, says the winning car this year is the Toyota Prius Prime SE, a...

**Mod Note - 3 threads about this all merged into this one, the first one posted **



Should I sell my c now?

I am new to hybrids, I have my Prius Prime Premium for 3 weeks now. It seems to me there are advantages of using each mode in different conditions but I read some saying they are always in Eco. For instance I live in a hilly area,if I'm doing 30 mph up a hill, Eco mode is struggling unless I happen to be in EV. Even in Eco EV the coach is telling me to crawl up the hill. Can someone explain this?

Laughable and sad at the same time.

Toyota says it doesn't worry about Tesla's lead, shuns all-electric and goes 'electrified' by 2025 - Electrek

Well, at least they're admitting it. And they're not entirely wrong since EV's are still just a small fraction of total vehicle sales around the world.

That said, I wonder what would've become of the Rav4 EV if they continued to improve it. Or at least offered a plug-in hybrid version.

Toyota Won't Make A Proper EV Because Dealers Say It Won't Sell

Toyota’s Chief Says Electric Vehicles Are Overhyped - WSJ

Source: 1st Chevy Bolt Deliveries Have Begun In California! | CleanTechnica


I'm impressed ... NOT!

Source: First Chevrolet Bolts delivered in Northern California - Autoblog
Which part of bovine fecal matter applies?

Bob Wilson

Suddenly, Solar-Powered Cars Have a Bright(er) Future - The Drive

I'm not sure covering the rear window with a solar panel is a good idea. I would like to see panels that slide down over the front and rear windows when you park. At any rate, new, high-efficiency thin film solar cells could make for a practical solar-powered PHEV. My car gets parked outside and is only driven every few days. This would...

Tesla is dragging its feet to resolve the autopilot safety issues, and NHTSA is not happy about it.

Tesla Autopilot recall probed by safety regulator following new crashes

How Tesla lost the race for affordable EVs to an unexpected rival

Green Car Congress: Edmunds.com: EV and hybrid loyalty falls to all-time low

Just when you think Toyota is years behind Tesla - Boom look what Toyota has been working on - amazing a 10 minute charge.

Toyota EV with solid-state batteries: 10-minute full charge, prototype reportedly due in 2021