Featured Threads Archive
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Gen 6 Prius engine will be a “game changer,” achieve a 53% thermal efficiency
Gen 6 will more than make up the usual Prius generational progress in fuel efficiency that did not come with Gen 5.
The all-new 1.5-L naturally aspirated engine that will power Gen 6 Prius will result in a 30% increase in both thermal efficiency and horsepower, increasing the 41% thermal efficiency of the current engine to 53%.
This will bring the EPA fuel efficiency to around 75 mpg. Hypermilers will easily average around 100 mpg. In populated states like California, driving a Gen 6 Prius will be cheaper than driving a BEV.
The smaller size of the engine will also allow Gen 6 to have a more aggressive design than Gen 5, with a lowered roof.
There will also be a 2.0-L and turbo versions of the all-new engine.
The pictures in the gallery show the new engine in a yellow Gen 5 Prius Prime.
...
Gokhan Jun 7, 2024 Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News Read More Views: 25,451 Likes: 3 Replies: 260 -
Toyota plans for ICE engines
Toyota hints at its latest plans for upcoming ICE vehicles
Smaller, lighter, multi-fuel versions, battery assisted.mikefocke May 28, 2024 Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News Read More Views: 2,887 Likes: 1 Replies: 20 -
Hybrid Porsche 911
2025 Porsche 911 Sneak Preview: New 992.2 dawns with T-Hybrid, crazy aero for GTS - Autoblog
Small battery, adds 50 HP, sub 3 second 0 to 60. No EPA yet. No convertible or Targa yet. Adds $15k from previous model.
Review: improves drive-ability per test driver with reviewer ride along.mikefocke May 28, 2024 Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News Read More Views: 1,019 Likes: 0 Replies: 4 -
Hospital bans EVS because (unlike gas) they catch fire
Electric Vehicle Turned Away From Hospital Car Park | Silicon UK
You think with so many smart people in a administrative position that they would be able to think better.
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Yoshi Mobility Brings the Charger to You
Forbes article about a company called yoshi Mobility that that drives a specialized General Motors BrightDrop Zevo 600 electric delivery van onto your lot and the EVs gather to feed like piglets around momma:
Yoshi Mobility Brings Mobile EV Charging To Fleets -
Lexus RZ is selling $13,000 below MSRP in Southern California due to inventory surplus
This is not really news, but I ran into this on the Longo site.
Longo Toyota alone here have 74 RZs in stock. They are very nice SUVs, much better than the bZ4X, and despite the $7,500 customer cash, they are not selling. So, people still don't want BEVs.
Well, in case if anyone is looking for a lucrative deal for a BEV SUV around here, this is it. In addition to the $7,500 cash offer, there is a dealer discount of about $3,000. You can probably easily negotiate another $2,000 dealer discount. You will drive home a nice Lexus BEV SUV $12,000–13,000 below MSRP if not even lower.
New Lexus Cars for Sale in El Monte, CA | Longo Lexus
CUSTOMER CASH
5/1/2024 - 6/3/2024 Expires 06-03-2024.
7,500 Lexus Cash from Lexus Division of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. from participating dealer's stock and subject to vehicle availability. Amount of Lexus Cash and eligible vehicles vary... -
CATL unveils the 620-mile, 10-minute-fast-charging LFP battery
It looks like it is game over for the other battery manufacturers, given that LFP batteries are also the least costly and most environmentally friendly to manufacture.
CATL unveils Shenxing PLUS, enabling 1,000-km range and 4C superfast charging -
Toyota and Kenworth Team up to Create a Fuel Cell Regional Semi
Toyota and Kenworth are making a 450 mile (724 km) range fuel cell Semi that can haul 82,000 lbs (37,195 kg).
Toyota supersizes battery in fuel-cell semi, teases formula for pickups
Yeah we've talked about something like this before:
Toyota's New Bet on Hydrogen | PriusChat
This is slightly different in that in addition to the 58.8 kg of hydrogen, it has a buffer Lithium NCA battery of 200 kWh. So what's the DCFC speed? Just what the fuel cell is capable of, because there is no DCFC or charge port of any kind. As many of us know the fuel cell's main weakness is slower dynamic reaction to power requests than batteries. The 200 kWh battery supplies a buffer for the fuel cell. Combine the large truck and payload going downhill along with 310 kW motors the battery pack can... -
100% Tariff on Chinese EV's in the USA.
Chinese electric cars: why Biden is keeping cheap cars from BYD out - Vox
Biden announces new tariffs on Chinese EVs, semiconductors, solar cells and more - CBS News
These are a couple of articles on the new 100% tariff on Chinese EVs. I'm only adding these for information and would encourage others to not start a politcal debate. I don't share the political views of perhaps any news agency, much less these two.
Regardless, if one were hoping for those cheap Chinese EV's to come into the USA and give a person the opportunity to not only buy an EV, but also perhaps their only chance at buying a new car, well, that ship seems to have been sunk.Isaac Zachary May 15, 2024 Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News Read More Views: 5,795 Likes: 1 Replies: 61 -
Toyota Worst on Climate Lobbying
Apparently not the first time.
Toyota once again ranked as worst automaker on climate lobbying globally (electrek.co)El Dobro May 14, 2024 Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News Read More Views: 1,457 Likes: 1 Replies: 13 -
Consumer Reports on Tesla Model 3
Between the snark:
They actually touched on many important changes. But you really have to wade through their "opinions." No I won't subscribe based on this review but I'll look for the print version on the magazine rack.
Bob Wilsonbwilson4web May 8, 2024 Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News Read More Views: 1,126 Likes: 0 Replies: 0 -
The EV version of the "Dust to Dust" report
Seen on Autoline Daily, I was disappointed to see (Electric Cars Are Driven the Least While Costing the Most - iSeeCars.com) which followed similar methodology to the notorious CNW Marketing report, "Dust to Dust." For the youngsters, this CNW statistical report claimed Hummers were more 'green' than our Prius.
So here are the highlights of this latest iSeeCars statistical study:
- Electric cars are driven 20 percent less than gasoline cars, but their higher prices mean they cost 63.6 percent more for every 1,000 miles driven per year
- Hybrids and plug-in hybrids are also driven less than gasoline models, but only by 2.7 and 4.8 percent, respectively, making their cost-per-1,000 miles per year much closer
- The average electric car costs $5,108 for every 1,000 miles per year it’s driven compared to $3,056 for a hybrid car, $3,123 for a gasoline car, and $4,351 for a plug-in hybrid
- The...
bwilson4web May 1, 2024 Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News Read More Views: 7,684 Likes: 1 Replies: 89 -
Death of a Fisker Ocean EV
Somewhat improbable but apparently true tale of a Fisker Ocean EV that was total due to a door ding.
Apparently the insurance company could not find replacement parts at any price and just gave up on it. Owner seems pretty unhappy with Fisker.
Fisker Ocean Totaled After Tiny Door Ding Souring EV Dream | Carscoops -
Honda sets up Shop in Ontario, CA
Honda in Ontario: $15 billion for the supply chain - Motor Illustrated
Honda is going to base their new EV supply chain in Alliston, Ontario, Canada to the tune of $15B. It'll work closely with their Ohio plant. They don't want to just produce cars but the cathodes and other battery components there as well. Start date: 2028. Manufacturing capacity: 240,000 EVs and battery capacity of 36 kWh/year. -
Tesla Autopilot recall probed by safety regulator following new crashes
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 crashesGokhan Apr 26, 2024 Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News Read More Views: 20,487 Likes: 0 Replies: 268 -
Speculative 2-speed EV transmission
Source:
. . . Amsted’s Dynamic Controllable Clutch technology can be used to include a two-speed transmission in an EV’s drivetrain, which provides both improved performance and increased driving range.
The challenges of shifting gears with a high-torque electric motor have meant that only the Porsche Taycan has used a 2-speed transmission so far. It was the plan of Tesla founders Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning to include a 2-speed transmission in the company’s original Roadster model, but they couldn’t achieve the necessary reliability then and Tesla has shied away from multi-speed...bwilson4web Apr 24, 2024 Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News Read More Views: 3,337 Likes: 2 Replies: 38 -
New Nissan Qashqai
Source: Daily Automotive News
the second [Qashqai rjw] is what Nissan calls e-Power, but this e-Power operates differently than some other e-Power vehicles. It uses a three-cylinder turbo engine to generate electricity for the 140-kW electric motor or send it to the 1.8 kWh battery pack.
. . .
Almost the reverse ratio as my 2017 BMW i3-REx bought used last August. Both vehicles do not have a mechanical or electro-mechanical transmission:
- Nissan e-power :: BNW I3-REx - metric
- 143 kW :: 23 kW - ICE power, the BMW has just enough power to sustain 70 mph
- 1.8 kWh :: 28 kWh - Battery capacity, the 1,8 kWh is similar to my early Prius battery
bwilson4web Apr 23, 2024 Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News Read More Views: 1,222 Likes: 1 Replies: 4 -
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2025 Camry HEV debuts, priced lower than the previous generation and only $450 higher than the Prius
2025 Camry LE fuel economy is 53/50/51 mpg (city/highway/combined)—similar to that of Prius XLE/Limited.
It is priced at $28,400—only $450 higher than Prius LE.
2025 Toyota Camry | Toyota.com -
CARB, BMW i3, PHEV
Seeing the news about future PHEV, reminded me of this old news, it would be great if it applied to PHEVs.
Source: California and PHEV
Summarizing from the lengthy 112-page regulation, 2012 Amendments to the Zero Emission Vehicle Regulations, the BEVx definition says (among other criteria):- The vehicle must have a rated all-electric range of at least 75 miles (higher than the 50 miles required of a zero-emission vehicle);
- The auxiliary power unit must provide range less than, or at most equal to, that battery range;
- The APU must not be capable of switching on until the battery charge has been depleted;
- The vehicle must meet "super ultra...
bwilson4web Apr 16, 2024 Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News Read More Views: 1,303 Likes: 1 Replies: 12
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