Featured Threads Archive

Is the honeymoon over?
UPDATE 13-Oil jumps 8 pct, biggest 3-day surge since 1990| Reuters

I got an invitation to drive the Murai at my local dealer a couple of weeks ago. So I reserved a spot and went last week and drove it.

I'm still against hydrogen fueling, in general, due to the many reasons I and others have mentioned on numerous threads. But the car was nice, drove nice, etc. However, I could only drive on slower side streets...not allowed to go on the freeway...because they wouldn't have enough fuel for everyone! (And they have to be able to drive it back to the refuel station.)

All the things I liked had nothing to do with the power train...just nicer things taken from higher end Toyotas than the Prius. Comfortable leather power seats...automatically slide back when you power off. Side mirrors tilt down when you shift to reverse. AC/heat display . Nicer instrument panel display, etc.

Trunk space...not that great, more like a 2001 Prius. No spare tire. Rear seating head room (no problem for me) but a person that rode with me was 6'0" and complained.

As for...

It doesn't look all electric, but it's close.
BMW: All Models Electric Within Decade - NASDAQ.com

The race is on right now on FS1 with Porsche Hybrids vs. Audi Hybrids. Toyota's there, just rolling behind everyone else. An interesting strategy.

Clear photos of the 2016 Toyota Prius, front & rear.

More 2016 Prius spy shots: SPOTTED! *UNWRAPPED* 2016 Prius spotted this morning! | PriusChat

I love it.






I come from Taiwan Hybrid club



Mod note: Edited to replace first two photos with higher resolution versions and put a short bit of text for clarity.

A Plugin ?!? Wait . . . That's insane. In fact, that's Ludicrous

Tesla Model S P85D Breaks the Consumer Reports Ratings System

A surprise? CR car testers are often slanted to the gear head mentality - so it was unusual to see they rated it above their scale of a perfect 100.
Mod note: Changed link to go directly to Consumer Reports website.

This week Tony, Patrick and Russell discuss a new Hyundai hybrid and EV, Gm building an EV plant in China and long discussion about what type of tech we want in our vehicles.

What types of tech do we want in our vehicles? (ignore the link baity headline) Consumers on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: meh - Fortune

Another “Prius fighter” but forgive the link bait, this might be real
Spied: EV Variant of Hyundai Prius-Fighter Spills its All-Electric Guts


GM to build half billion EV factory in China General Motors Begins Building $470 Million EV Factory In China - HybridCars.com

Two minutes news...

Hawaii moves away from fossil fuels -...

Get $1.00 for every battery vaporware that comes down the pike, & you might retire
That said, both Isreal & Samsung think it has so much promise, that both find the chemistry to be worthy of investment.

Electric cars could charge in 5 minutes if this tech takes off - Fortune

One can't help but entertain the thought of whether such a battery would be the death knell of the gas car as we know it. Probably not ... but it'd sure be likely to put a dent in the ICE industry. Oh ... and so as not to disappoint Bisco ... yes, we could kiss the hydrogen hoax-mobile good bye .... buahahahahahaa !!

.

From 2017 Toyota Prius: This Is It

Toyota sold 8 million hybrids, hybrids represent 13-14% of Toyota USA annual sales.

Source: Before Threats Came Along in the '70s, U.S. Fuel Economy Since 1923 Has Progressed Slowly - HybridCars.com

source: Toyota Set to Unveil All-New Prius | TheDetroitBureau.com

. . .
The Toyota Prius hasn’t had a major update in seven years, and early reports suggest the new one will grow longer, get a little more power, improve fuel economy and possible stretch its range in all-electric mode. Some reports indicate an optional lithium-ion battery may also become available on the 2016 Prius.


Toyota has sent out invitations for journalists to attend a preview of the fourth-generation in Las Vegas on September eighth. The current model has been around since 2009, an unusually long stretch for Toyota.
. . .

Most of the article is flogging their anti-hybrid horse, again. So not a lot of new information except, September 8th, Las Vegas, . . . ('Baby, it is time we take a Vegas trip.') Ok, so maybe a moderator or two?

Bob Wilson

Two minutes news links: Portland airport installs 42 EV chargers http://buff.ly/1EBdsfM Tesla industrial batteries to help reduce power costs to Escondido high schools http://insideevs.com/tesla-power-escondido-schools/ Sexy Tesla charging robot arm https://youtu.be/uMM0lRfX6YI Tesla says, “we didn’t mean ‘unlimited'” http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1099608_tesla-letter-to-rein-in-local-supercharger-use-goes-wrong Where does your energy come from visualizations http://www.vox.com/2015/7/29/9066685/coal-oil-solar-maps my 2M, University of […]

Read more about this episode on WhatDrives.Us

Source: AD #1683 – Audi Targets Tesla, Big Data Finds Parking Spots, Tacoma’s Sales Strong – Autoline Daily

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.

Include a link to the article with something in your words about the article please. News forum rules.

Nissan Dealer Leaks Info On 2016 LEAF - Two Battery Sizes To Be Offered

2016 Nissan Leaf's Two Batteries: 84 Miles Base, 110 Miles For Top Trims, Dealer Says

So basically the base S trim will still have the 24 kWh battery, while the higher SV and SL trims will have a new 30 kWh battery, with up to 110 EPA miles of range.

Price to be announced later, but I'm guessing it's roughly the same as what the trims costs now, or they'll drop the S price to make it even more enticing to people who wants an EV for a short work/town commute and don't need the longer ranges.

I also wonder if Nissan will be offering the larger pack for older models in case people want to upgrade those.

And now it's got me wondering what kind of range the Gen 2 Leaf will have.

Little by little.

Illinois "Anti-ICEing” Law Signed

QOTD: Why Hasn’t Anyone Out-Gas Mileaged The Prius?

Fifty-one miles per gallon city. Forty-eight miles per gallon highway. Still the best numbers in the industry for nearly a decade now.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I’m referring to the Toyota Prius, which is a 5-door hatchback that looks a bit like an egg mated with a shopping cart. It’s been a decade since the Prius came out in hatchback form, and a decade since it achieved those impressive fuel economy figures: 51 miles per gallon city. 48 miles per gallon highway. And still, no one has unseated the Prius.

(more at the link)

This week Tony and Russell bravely go forth to wrestle with…
Audi A3 e tron pricing 2016 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron US Pricing Announced | CleanTechnica
Fisker makes it’s return…to the Inland Empire New competition for Tesla: Fisker to open factory in Riverside County - LA Times
While FCV owners search for an open refueling station, plug-in and EV drivers seem to like their cars Electric Car Drivers Tell Ford: We'll Never Go Back To Gasoline
BYD rising? Tesla and Nissan trumped by BYD in world EV sales | Auto Express We’re going to force you to do what you should...