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Or "CRZya-Later" With special thanks to Tepperman's Russell Tesla driver dies while using “autopilot”. Maybe this is the end of cute Tesla names. “Autopilot” stunts Paul All time EV Sales record for June 2016 Russell VW “buyback” varies Tony Tonight, we'll see if I can fill in to revive "Danny's Honda Rant". RIP Mark New GM autonomous driving research center

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Always and excellent source: June 2016 Dashboard

	Model	16_06	16_05	16_04	16_03
1	Prius Liftback	8531	9389	8923	8130
2	Transit Diesel*	5053
3	Ram Pickup Diesel*	4437	4493	4382	4729
4	RAV4	3751	4185	3807	3073
5	Model S*	2800	1500	1700	3000
6	Fusion Hybrid	2542	1716	2035	2057
7	Model X*	2000	2000	1500	1500
8	Volt	1937	1901	1983	1865
9	Fusion Energi	1700	1453	1331	1238
10	Camry Hybrid	1649	2055	1975	1746
11	C-Max Hybrid	1486	1327	1621	1092
12	Prius C	1355	1909	1676	2607
13	Sonata	1242	2513	1788	1884
14	Prius V	1130	1215	1322	1331
15	Leaf	1096	979	787	1246
16	Colorado Diesel	789	593	731	578
17	CT200h	785	797	577	972
18	MKZ	766	805	613	608
19	RX 400 / 450 h	684	719	899	886
20	ES Hybrid	646	735	700	894
21	C-Max Energi	630	538	607	610
22	Avalon Hybrid	619	660	715	776
23	i3*	608	696	814	332
24	X5	583	500	655	313
25	Highlander Hybrid	528	473	442	492
26	Optima Hybrid	483	570	483	436
27	Malibu Hybrid	371	246	1	2
28	Spark	359	394	419	252
29	A3 Plug In	353	361	321	332
30	Grand Cherokee...

Good point: Whois 247wallst.com

Bob Wilson

Hybrid and electric cars were the rage when gas prices where high. The grandfather of the category has been the Toyota (NYSE: TM) which recently fell on very hard times. Sales of the hybrid were off 26.7% to 11,027 in June and 25.2% to 67,405 for the first six months. Incentives on the Pruis have dropped to .9% for 72 months.



The Prius first came off the production line in 1997. Toyota has sold 3.7 million worldwide since then. Recently sales have been challenged by an army of other hybrids and the new found attraction of all electric cars like the Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) Model 3 which will be priced at $35,000 before government incentives, that could be several thousands of dollars more. That will bring the car to about the same price level as a well-outfitted Prius. Granted, the Tesla will not be available until 2017, but the company has several hundred thousands of orders.

Virtually every large global manufacturer has one or more hybrid models. This was not the case when the...

I wonder if it's an FCV.
Toyota patent filing shows another hope for the flying car

If anyone's interested, I just wrapped up and published my review of the 2016 RAV4 Hybrid. All-in-all, I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. The overall MPG it delivered seriously surprised me.

Check it out here: 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid » What Drives Us

Russell First impressions driving the 4G prius. and, more prius So is Toyota really taking steps towards more EVs... and then Tony Toyota recall that hits hybrid owners Mark LA uses power saved from LED street lights to power electric cars. Have posted story on WDU FB as well Paul VW settled? Mostly, yes. Tony Looks like Fusco is heading back to the gas station after all

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A new airbag recall announced today:

Toyota Recalls Certain Prius and Lexus CT Vehicles | Corporate

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a coalition of 12 automakers including Toyota, is lobbying to weaken CAFE 2025 CO2 reduction targets, according to media reports. Toyota has not publicly distanced itself from the reported lobbying campaign.

U.S. Underestimates Cost of Fuel and CO2 Goals, Automakers Say - Bloomberg

Source: Automakers Face Tightening Rules in Zero-Emission Vehicle Mandate


So it looks like there will be a 'come to Jesus' meeting in 2018. I'm impressed with the progress in battery technology. In effect, they are becoming more practical. However, the fool-cell has yet to show a similar breakthrough until hydrogen reformulation from other hydrogen carriers shows up in the cars.

Bob Wilson

This week Russell, Paul, Mark and Patrick discuss... The first electric touring motorcycle. What has to be the ugliest concept vehicle ever unveiled, a self driving Rolls Royce. Why Nissan Leaf sales have slowed so much. Nissan confirms 200 mile range Leaf coming. Tesla talking about acquiring Solar City.

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3 months after Prius Gen4 was released in Australia, there are still almost none in dealerships - none have appeared in my city, I think there is 1 across the other side of the next city (1 hr away), 2 more 2 hrs away.

I spoke with a salesman at a reasonably close dealership I hadn't contacted before today - he said he didn't think they'd be stocking any, they'll order them in if taxi owners want them, but he didn't think they were targeted at private buyers. Hmmm, I'm not sure if that was his opinion or the boss, but I crossed them off my list.

BUT - just this week, the Corolla Hybrid was released, and a few examples have arrived in dealerships already. It looks like it is a Gen3 dressed up in Corolla clothes. It is reasonably well equipped, but there is no autonomous cruise or lane assist, blind-spot etc like on our Prius. It appears a little smaller, and has a temporary spare tyre. It is about $7000 cheaper than Prius. It is roughly about the same price as...

Source: Nissan Leaf electric vs Toyota Prius hybrid: which is lower on cost, emissions?

As I silently drive away . . .

Bob Wilson

...

Well, some good news for my fellow Ontarians, particularly those in the Toronto area...

Green licence plates

Not sure how they would regulate 'permanent'? At some point (likely far in the future) BEV/PHEVs will be far more common and they will need to repeal this. I can only imagine they will stop providing green plates and grandfather it in over time.

In any case, it is great news nonetheless.

8:00 AM EST on FS1 and 2.
Toyota Global Site | Motorsports | FIA World Endurance Championship

The race coverage just started on FS2.

This week the crew take on... Nikola Motors big electric truck Tesla to sell electric cars at Nordstrom department store, expanding retail footprint The Tesla Suspension story Fiat CEO calls Tesla money losing icon E-Harley in Five Years

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So, thoughts on this? How much more feasible would this be economically compared to hydrogen stored at high pressures? Would it be greener, or would it pollute more than renewable hydrogen via electrolysis?

Nissan takes a different approach to fuel cells: ethanol

Article says CPO Certified Pre-Owned is increasingly important for dealers. I'd certainly think a certified pre-owned Prius is a good buy. I am considering for next Prius as our car taxes in VA are quite high, so a decent used car would be double-whammy savings.

At car dealers, 'certified pre-owned' is the new used

Came across this article today, very interesting read!

Why the Toyota Prius is conquering the land of Genghis Khan - The Globe and Mail

Essentially, they are doing a lot of testing for us, exposing the cars in extreme cold/harsh environment. Battery is the main issue under this scenario.

However, more reasons to think if you are not living in the extremes of natural environment, your Prii will probably last a lot longer. With cheaper-than-you-think battery replacement cost, more confidence vote to keep the car longer.