Featured Threads Archive
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Car Review: 2016 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE
It’s hard to imagine, but 2017 will mark the 20th anniversary of the debut of Toyota’s first gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle, the Prius, way back in 1997. Since then, hybrids, and the electrification of the automobile in general, have become almost ho-hum.
Yes, some still get excited about the idea of a “$35,000” all-electricTesla, but electrically-assisted, internal combustion engine vehicles are becoming the norm, not the exception, in showrooms. To the point where the normcore Camry Hybrid — and rivals from Ford,Honda, Hyundai, Kia and Volkswagen — can get left off a new car buyer’s list. Yet after a... -
The VW/Audi Diesel Scandal Remedy for US owners--first report
Here's a link to today's NY Times article on the agreement between Volkswagen and US authorities on remedies for US owners of the "rigged emissions test" diesel cars.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/22/business/international/volkswagen-emissions-settlement.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
The deal provides for a fix for the 2.0 liter diesel engines or buyback of the cars. It does not address the (fewer, I think) 3.2 liter engines.
The article does not contain a link to the text of the agreement (that I could find, anyway)--if anyone finds such a link, please post it. -
Honda to add three green cars under Clarity name
Honda to add three green cars under Clarity name | Reuters
So far the name has been used for Honda's hydrogen fuel cell car, the FCX Clarity. A totally new model, the Honda Fuel Cell, was launched in Japan in March and will be available in California late this year.
That will be followed by the Clarity Electric in 2017 and the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid late next year, John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda, told reporters at a briefing in Detroit on Wednesday.
Honda also said in a statement on Thursday that the 2017 Accord Hybrid will go on sale in the United States before the end of spring. Honda sold about 14,000 of the previous model in the U.S. market in 2014, the last full year it was available. -
Buick LaCrosse Hybrid in Shanghai
Source: Buick LaCrosse Hybrid Electric Vehicle Makes Global Debut in Shanghai
“GM’s leadership in electrification technologies, now and in the future, are coming to Buick in China,” said Larry Nitz, GM executive director of Global Propulsion Systems, at the event. “In fact, over the next five years, we will roll out more than 10 new energy vehicles in China, including several models for Buick. That includes full hybrids, plug-in hybrids and extended-range electric vehicles.”
. . .
The LaCrosse HEV offers comprehensive fuel economy of 4.7 L/100 km [50 MPG rjw]. This represents a 35 percent decrease in fuel consumption from the LaCrosse with eAssist that is powered by a smart hybrid power train, yet the LaCrosse HEV sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds.
What this means... -
Toyota Motor Europe hybrid sales up 38%
Source: Green Car Congress: Toyota Motor Europe hybrid sales up 38% in first quarter; 30% hybrid mix
Toyota Motor Europe (TME) reported a 38% increase in its Q1 2016 hybrid sales (Toyota and Lexus brands) versus the same period last year, representing 30% of total sales, compared to 24% for the full calendar year 2015. The Toyota brand hybrids accounted for 59,608 units (+43% year-on-year) for a hybrid mix of 27%; Lexus brand hybrids posted 12,141 units (+15% year-on-year), for a hybrid mix of 67%.
Total TME sales for the first quarter of 2016 were 241,600 Toyota and Lexus vehicles, an increase of 5.1% from Q1 2015, in a European market still split between growth in the West and Central Europe (+7.9%) and further decline in the East (-10%). Total market share for the group stood at 4.8%.
We should buy single shares of... -
Toyota details design of fuel cell system
Source: Green Car Congress: Toyota details design of fuel cell system in Mirai; work on electrode catalysts
While other major automakers have either introduced (Hyundai, Honda) or are in serious development of new hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for the market, Toyota continues to take the point in not just promoting, but also supporting the broader technical (and infrastructure) development required for a large-scale realization of hydrogen-based electromobility.
At the 2015 CES, Toyota announced royalty-free use of approximately 5,680 fuel-cell-related patents held globally, including critical technologies developed for the Mirai fuel cell vehicle. (Earlier post.) At the SAE 2015 World Congress, Toyota presented a set of four technical papers detailing some of the technology innovations used in Mirai fuel cell stack.... -
2016 Chevy Cruze: MPG beats even last year's Eco model
Source: 2016 Chevy Cruze: Gasoline version's MPG beats even last year's Eco model - CSMonitor.com
The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze EPA fuel-economy ratings beat those of all gasoline versions of the previous-generation model.
The second-generation Cruze was unveiled last June, and shown in China before that, but is just now going on sale throughout the U.S..
It achieves a best of 30 mpg city, 42 mpg highway, 35 mpg combined, making good on Chevy's promise that the 2016 Cruze would achieve at least 40 mpg highway.
. . .
So when I first read this, I wondered about the Cruze diesel that was discontinued. So I substituted a Jetta diesel:
model City Comb Hwy MSRP Volume 1 Cruze Limited 26 30 38 $16-24k 104 ft{3} 2 Cruze ECO 26 31 39 $20-21k 104 ft{3} 3 Cruze Diesel 2015 27 33 46 $16-25k 104 ft{3} 4 Cruze... -
Chevy Malibu hybrid
Source: Green Car Congress: GM details 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid powertrain design and operation
Like many GM solutions, more brute force than finess, but since when has GM shown technical excellence since the accountants captured mahogany row?
Bob Wilson -
Prius Production Halted
Most Japanese Toyota production, apparently including all Prius production, is being halted due to damage at supplier factories caused by the recent earthquakes.
Toyota to halt most domestic production due to supply shortage from quake- Nikkei Asian Review -
The EV Era
Autoline This Week:
Source: The EV Era (Show #2012) on Autoline This Week
If you have an hour, a good listen:
Electrics were all the rage a few years ago. Nissan, Mitsubishi and Chevrolet – among others – gave consumers their first taste of gas-free driving. But as manufacturers improved the performance of their internal combustion engines, electrics almost went into hibernation. But now, suddenly, they are de rigueur once again. Join John McElroy from the floor of the New York Auto Show as he discusses this electric resurrection with Salim Morsy from Bloomberg New Energy Finance, John Voelcker of High Gear Media and EV enthusiast Chelsea Sexton.
Bob Wilson -
What Drives Us Podcast - #181 Give The Unicorns A Break - What Drives Us
Green Eyed Motors in Boulder, Colorado TMT Model S Refresh Netherlands looking to ban all gas and diesel car sales by 2025 Ford announces another compliance car to be built in Mexico Dumb Tesla meme also hurts the EV category in general, and it’s dumb. Did I mention it’s dumb? The charging crisis for Tesla (not looming but on the horizon) Jim Lentz haz a sad
Read more about this episode on WhatDrives.Us -
Monkey Wrench thrown in Chevy Bolt Plan
Tesla Model 3: The Monkey Wrench In GM's Plans For Chevy Bolt
This story is sort of a new spin on the old adage
"a bird in hand is... -
IL Senate President blames Prius for declining gas tax revenues
I can think of better ways to get publicity for Prius.
Tax Illinois drivers by the mile? -
Meet the new Ford, a Silicon Valley software company
Interesting and wide ranging interview with Ford's CEO regarding technology, future cars, EVs, autonomous driving, etc.:
Meet the new Ford, a Silicon Valley software company | The Verge
"Ford recently spun off its next-generation mobility initiatives into a wholly owned subsidiary, Ford Smart Mobility LLC, with operations centered in Palo Alto. That’s a long, long way from Ford headquarters in Dearborn. (2,421 miles, to be exact.) We sat down with Fields to discuss the spin-off, the state of his business, and what it means for the 113-year-old Ford Motor Company to exist in a post-car world." -
What Drives Us Podcast - #180 Avoiding The Dead Donkey - What Drives Us
This week, Tony, Paul, Patrick, Mark, Evan and Russell take a look at: Post Oil Saudi Arabia March 2016 Plug-In Electric Vehicle Sales In US Hit All-Time Record High BMW EV's attempt a record at Formula E Race in Long Beach Faraday Future loves the Model 3 China’s Companies Poised to Take Leap in Developing a Driverless Car
Read more about this episode on WhatDrives.Us -
What's acceptable miles for a 2007-2013 Prius?
Hi. I'm looking at doing rideshare with a 2007 Prius, and I'm told it has no less than 403701 miles on it. Should I be aware of such high miles on a 10 year old hybrid? What are acceptable mileage (ranges) for a 2007 Prius? Thanks -
March 2016 Dashboard
As always, an excellent report from Jeff Cobb:
March 2016 Dashboard
Model 16_03 16_02 16_01 15_12 1 Prius Liftback 8130 7169 6333 10153 2 Ram Pickup Diesel 4729 4153 3193 4531 3 RAV4 3073 2462 1973 1430 4 Model S 3000 1900 1300 3202 5 Prius C 2607 2263 1763 2861 6 Fusion Hybrid 2057 1764 1373 1960 7 Sonata 1884 1588 964 1138 8 Volt 1865 1126 996 2114 9 Camry Hybrid 1746 1599 1256 1861 10 Model X 1500 500 400 177 11 Prius v (lowercase v for the Prius v wagon) 1331 1112 1205 2040 12 Leaf 1246 930 755 1347 13 Fusion Energi 1238 932 581 1058 14 C-Max Hybrid 1092 880 637 837 15 CT200h 972 762 622 1464 16 ES Hybrid 894 633 622 1443 17 RX 400 / 450 h 886 752 790 1493 18 Avalon Hybrid 776 590 583 933 19 C-Max Energi 610 490 350 579 20 MKZ 608 585 491 867 21 Colorado Diesel 578 403 108 22 Highlander Hybrid 492 396 375 516 23 Optima Hybrid 436 386 469 870 24 Range Rover Sport 408 308 272 417 25 500e 373 195 217 26 Grand Cherokee Diesel 370 308 263 420 27 Q50...
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