Featured Threads Archive
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Mercedes crashes two EVs
The energy in a collision is the velocity squared:
For economic and engineering reasons, crash tests are into known barriers or run into by test carts. A cynic might suggests this is another way to reduce unsold inventory.
Bob Wilson -
Global electric-vehicle meltdown: What you need to know
We didn't expect this horrible EV catastrophe to happen.
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2023 Prime review
I suffered with a first model year Prime, lowest trim, that ended my Prius history. This 2023 model year review shows one that is ‘less bad’ than my former Prius:
Bob Wilson -
Highlander recall
Source: Toyota Recalls More Than 800,000 Highlanders for a Bumper Fix - The New York Times
The recall applies to Highlanders, including hybrid versions of the vehicle, with model years between 2020 and 2023, the company said in a statement on Thursday.
Those vehicles have a resin front lower bumper cover that is connected with mounting clips. A “minor impact” could cause the mounting clips to come loose from the vehicle, leading to additional parts falling off and increasing the risk of a crash or injury, Toyota said.
Owners of Toyota Highlanders can search online to see whether their vehicles are part of the recall. Owners will be notified directly of the recall by late December, the company said.
Gives me no joy but there has been some buzz about this model.
Bob Wilson -
I am looking at a Lexus UX 250h - a fancy Prius
I'm here because they are mechanically pretty much the same with more do-dad's, uses premium gas, and a good five or six inches higher than my Prius. But typical of cheap skate Toyota, no dual setting buttons for the drivers seat. (Is there an aftermarket solution?")
Our Prius is too low for failing knees, the Lexus is higher off the ground and I'm expecting more seat comfort for old people like me.
I'm wondering if anyone has much to say about this car, good, bad, and ugly?
Speaking of worth knowing. I assume like the Corolla the entry assist handles on Prius is now installed with clips, not screws or bolts, leaving a family member of mine with a handle in his hand, and a double cheeseburger in the other!
Thanks in advance... -
The World’s Biggest Carmaker Made a Huge Bet on Tech. Things Went Wrong Fast.
The Wall Street Journal
The World’s Biggest Carmaker Made a Huge Bet on Tech. Things Went Wrong Fast. | MSN Money
Toyota needed software expertise, but making a startup mentality mesh with an 86-year-old giant proved challenging. Now it’s trying a new way.
Link to the original article that appeared on Wall Street Journal
TOKYO—Toyota sells more cars each year than any other company, and it had similarly big dreams when it created its own in-house technology startup in 2021. It picked an American tech whiz to run it and envisioned... -
Toyota Technical Chief says People are Finally Seeing the Reality about Hydrogen EVs
Toyota Admits Mirai Has “Not Been Successful,” Will Focus On Hydrogen Commercial Vehicles | Carscoops
CarScoops has published an article about Toyota's lack of success selling hydrogen powered EVs. Toyota will refocus its hydrogen efforts to commercial vehicles. They note the lack of hydrogen filling stations as the main reason. Toyota Technical Chief Hiroki Nakajima says building the hydrogen highway for commercial vehicles is much easier because commercial vehicles go long distances from point a to b (i.e. the stations don't rely on occasional local travel based fill ups).
Well that and commercial vehicles would create a much bigger demand for hydrogen than the paltry 2 or 3 kg fill ups they ask investors to pony up $1M for a hydrogen gas station. The industry doesn't even know if they'll end up using liquid or... -
Edison Diesel-Electric Heavy Duty Semi truck.
Couple of Canadian truckers got tired of waiting for Elon to come through with his electric semi-truck and went and started building their own. It'll run on batteries plus whatever fuel you want - diesel, natural gas, hydrogen, they don't care. Looking at the videos I feel like the BS content is low and the rugged practicality content is high. Lot of contenders in this general area, I hope these guys make it.
https://www.edisonmotors.ca/
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Hertz pulls back on EV plans citing Tesla price cuts, high repair costs
Bad news for Tesla and other EV owners: Contrary to what is popularly claimed, EVs are not only a lot more expensive to maintain but have an a lot less resale value. Hertz found out this the hard way, and they are scaling down.
Hertz pulls back on EV plans citing Tesla price cuts, repair cost—CNBC
Hertz is scaling back its EV ambitions because its Teslas keep getting damaged—The Verge -
Toyota chairman says people are finally seeing the reality about EVs
Toyota Chairman Says People Are Finally Seeing the Reality About EVs
Akio Toyoda’s comments come amid cooling U.S. demand and a price war with China
By River Davis
Updated Oct. 25, 2023 11:38 am ET
Toyota Motor’s FT-Se concept car at the Japan Mobility Show 2023 in Tokyo. PHOTO: FRANCK ROBICHON/SHUTTERSTOCK
TOKYO—Toyota Motor Chairman Akio Toyoda, when asked about electric-vehicle challenges including a recent lull in U.S. demand, said the industry was coming to recognize that there isn’t a single answer to reducing carbon emissions.
“People are finally seeing reality,” Toyoda said Wednesday, speaking in his capacity as the head of the... -
eReadiness Study 2023
A PDF report with extensive graphics, I am sharing a few images from the report. Access requires filling out a form about your work status:
Report Strategy&
Who we are:
How we converted from Prius to EVs:
Ego strokes, the Garrison Keillor "Lake Woebegone" metric:
Bob Wilson -
Toyota electric cars will adopt Tesla Connectors
Just read on CNN's news feed page:
Toyota's electric cars will adopt Tesla's charging standard | CNN Business
Tesla charging method.
We drive a 2017 Prius 4. Won't effect our car. -
Edmunds test Automated Driver Assist systems
Source:
One reason in 2019 I bought a Model 3 was for Autopilot. The same year, I bought FSD for $6,000 ...
Bob Wilson -
"Hippy tax" tag fees?
Wednesday's Autoline Daily has report about excessive tag fees for EVs:
https://www.autoline.tv/daily/ad-3672-uaw-casualty-stellantis-pulls-out-of-ces-eu-battle-of-direct-sales-vs-dealerships-bmw-surrenders-goes-with-nacs/
RED STATES TARGET EVs WITH FEES
There’s a big political divide in the U.S. over EVs. Democrats are pushing to get more on the road while Republicans claim nobody wants them. And now, mostly Republican controlled states are charging big fees to EV owners. At least eight states are charging $200 or more for annual registration fees and all but one, Pennsylvania, is controlled by Republicans. The GOP claims it’s an effort to make up for lost gas tax... -
Friday 13th hydrogen story
<MEGA SIGH>
Source: Biden administration to award $7bn in grants to create US ‘hydrogen hubs’ | US news | The Guardian
The US Department of Energy has selected seven projects for a $7bn program to launch the development and production of hydrogen fuel, the White House announced on Friday.
The Biden administration says the program will constitute a major boost to the country’s nascent clean hydrogen industry, helping it achieve its climate goals. But many climate advocates are skeptical that it will actually help reduce emission.
. . .
The money will be awarded to proposed hydrogen projects on the Gulf Coast and in the mid-Atlantic, Appalachia, midwest, upper midwest, Pacific... -
Plug-In Hybrids Are Not What You Think They Are
In the interest of fairness:
This video confirms my low opinion about Consumer Reports and Plug-In Hybrids that have a transmission. If there is any interest, I'll share my thoughts later.
Bob Wilson
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