Featured Threads Archive
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Prius (and all Toyota vehicles) & the Kobe Steel Revelations
I'm not wanting to raise any alarms where not warranted, but, just as an FYI ...
Yesterday, it was publicly announced that Kobe Steel falsified QA inspection results for aluminum and copper that they produced.
Of particular relevance to Toyota (taken from yesterday's NY Times article on the Kobe Steel situation):
Kobe Steel said on Sunday that employees at four of its factories had altered inspection certificates on aluminum and copper products from September 2016 to August this year. The changes, it said, made it look as if the products met manufacturing specifications required by customers — including for vital qualities like tensile strength, a measure of stiffness — when they did not.
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All of Japan’s major carmakers — Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota — are looking into their use of Kobe Steel materials. Toyota called the data falsification a “grave issue” and said it was looking into the problem and considering how best to respond,... -
Is this (not so) "smart" product Prius compatible?
In a recent article I saw a mention of a "smart" product called Phrame. It looks like a SKSK incompatible security nightmare to me.
Phrame is a smart license plate frame that serves as a “safe box” for your car key. It is equipped with sensors and a security system that you can easily install on your car around your existing car’s license plate frame and then connect to your smartphone.
From there, Phrame can communicate with your smartphone, enabling the ability to share access to your car via storing your car key inside Phrame’s compartment. This way, Phrame gives you full-control over providing access to your car to whomever you wish via the Phrame app. Moreover, the app provides real-time information directly to your smartphone such as your car’s location, outside temperature and any unusual activity related to your car.
The original article said you could give others access to the "hidden" key. I doubt it is compatible with full SKS.
... -
Morgan Stanley predicts 1B EVs on the road by 2050
Bad news for ICE power train component makers, good news for battery makers, chip makers, and maybe harder for automakers to maintain branding differentiation and profits.
Morgan StanleyVoice: Auto Industry Braces For Electric Shock
Posted via the PriusChat mobile app. -
Automakers and Fuel Efficiency Standards
Source: Automakers Supporting Revision of Fuel Efficiency Standards | TheDetroitBureau.com
Automakers Supporting Revision of Fuel Efficiency Standards
Move comes despite public support for tougher mandates.
by Michael Strong on Oct.09, 2017
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt reopened the review of tougher CAFE standards going into effect for 2025.
Automakers want federal regulators to revise fuel efficiency mandates because meeting the standard for 2025 of 54.5 mpg would be cost prohibitive and, perhaps more importantly, U.S. consumers do not care about the mandate anyway, according to two trade association groups representing automakers.
The revelation, which comes two months after automakers said they were onboard with the tougher rules, was unveiled in testimony submitted in advance of meetings being held by the Environmental Protection Agency and the... -
GM SURUS platform
Source: GM Shows Off A New Autonomous Fuel-Cell Truck Platform Called SURUS And Its Pretty Damn Cool
. . . I was surprised by GM’s announcement of their new robotic fuel-cell-powered all-terrain utility-truck platform, SURUS. Most automaker reveals aren’t this confidently utilitarian, and it also seems to be a rebirth of a GM concept I thought was long dead, the Hy-wire fuel-cell concept that featured a self-contained, skateboard-like platform. The surprise is good, because the concept seems very promising.
. . .
GM is pitching the SURUS concept to utility and military applications, and their press release describes the vehicle’s potential abilities:
SURUS will deliver highly... -
SEMA Ioniq claims +80 MPG
Hyundai Ioniq for SEMA Nets More Than 80 MPG - Motor Trend
The SEMA-bound concept features a Bisimoto Dream Aero kit with a special front splitter, TA wing, side splitters, and rear wheel covers. Along with a Bisimoto pulse-chamber exhaust system, the model also gets enhanced e-generators, optimized inertial supercharging during valvetrain overlap, and a Progress Performance coilover suspension that reduces ground clearance. Also look for low-rolling resistance tires on Carbon Revolution 19-inch carbon fiber wheels, Buddy Club aluminum brake calipers, and NGK spark plugs. Inside the cabin, there are Recaro Pole Position racing seats.
“The HyperEconiq Ioniq takes the Ioniq where we always knew it could go, without sacrificing drivability,” said Bisi Ezerioha, president of Bisimoto Engineering, in a statement. “Leveraging the outstanding Ioniq electrified platform and powertrain,... -
Legislative Update: California HOV for Plug-Ins
Apparently California HOV users are waiting for Gov. Brown to sign bill AB544 which extends free HOV for most plug-ins (those with stickers dated after 2017). I believe many are confused about details, so all I know is what's in the article below. Sounds like PiP owners and other older plug-ins might be out of luck after 2018. I suppose this bill could increase CA plug-in sales, since you might need a new plug-in to keep the free HOV.
California Lawmakers Allow Clean Cars to Stay in Carpool Lanes | KQED Science -
Solid State Battery - next generation EV?
Here are a few links that all point to a Solid State Battery being the next generation for electric vehicles and that Toyota is intending to base their next generation EV on that technology.
Toyota teases solid state battery to be in production in early 2020(s):
Toyota Teases Battery Breakthrough; Elon Musk Doesn’t Believe It | News | Car and Driver | Car and Driver Blog
And, others are saying they will also have solid state battery technology in production within three years:
Bill Joy (venture capital):
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wired.com/story/bill-joy-finds-the-jesus-battery/amp
Dyson investing $1B in an EV solid state battery to be in production in 2020:... -
The EQUA Index - real world testing results
Source: http://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/mark-phelan/2017/10/06/gas-mileage-fuel-economy-window-stickers/730153001/
U.S. car buyers now have access to real-world fuel economy and emissions data on new vehicles, courtesy of a research group that helped reveal that Volkswagen was evading European emissions regulations in addition to cheating on U.S. tests.
Source: EQUA Index - Independent real-world driving data
- 58.5 MPG - 2017 Prius Prime
- 54.6 MPG - 2014 Plug-in Prius
- 50.0 MPG - 2014 Prius
- 47.2 MPG - 2014 Prius c
Bob Wilson -
Cars With the Most Dangerous Infotainment Systems Include Ford, GM
Audi, FCA, Honda, Nissan, and Volvo once you get past the headline.
The AAA had conducted a study on the workload the infotainment system put on the driver. Inputing destinations into a nav system was the biggest, taking an average 40 seconds to do. All 12 of the worse models in the list had Nav. Toyota likely avoided inclusion by simply locking the nav input up while the car was in motion.
Cars With the Most Dangerous Infotainment Systems Include Ford, GM - 24/7 Wall St. -
Toyota to Premiere Tj CRUISER at Tokyo Motor Show 2017
Toyota to Premiere Tj CRUISER at Tokyo Motor Show 2017 | TOYOTA Global Newsroom
I didn't actually notice that this one was a hybrid until I saw Jalopnik's article mentioning it. The engine being a 2.0... -
Toyota to Debut Next-generation Century at Tokyo Motor Show 2017
![[IMG]](proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fattachments.priuschat.com%2Fattachment-files%2F2017%2F10%2F133529_001.jpg&hash=871b706dfaa0f592bf45def902e6f1ea)
Toyota to Debut Next-generation Century at Tokyo Motor Show 2017 | TOYOTA Global Newsroom
Looks like this is the outgoing Lexus LS 600h's powertrain, which is a quite old one, but given how... -
Dashboard Summary Sept 2017
Again, thanks to Jeff Cobb's team: September 2017 Dashboard
model 09/15/17 08/15/17 07/15/17 06/15/17 1 Fusion Hybrid 6326 4623 2191 5697 2 RAV4 5759 5128 4695 3709 3 Prius Liftback 5722 6043 6034 5476 4 Transit Diesel 4741 3560 1299 3789 5 Model S 4500 2100 1500 2200 6 Model X 3400 1700 1400 2100 7 Sierra Hybrid 2992 3128 8 Bolt 2632 2107 1971 1642 9 Niro Hybrid 2554 2677 2763 2188 10 Accord Hybrid 2278 2162 2007 1799 11 Camry Hybrid 2090 1284 1290 1355 12 Prius Prime 1899 1820 1645 1619 13 Highlander Hybrid 1500 1419 1528 1478 14 Volt 1453 1445 1518 1745 15 Ram Pickup Diesel 1137 390 16 Ioniq Hybrid 1101 1093 1209 1348 17 Leaf 1055 1154 1283 1506 18 Prius C 937 853 868 867 19 Sonata 866 762 739 741 20 RX 400 / 450 h 835 852 806 655 21 Colorado Diesel 832 750 1021 784 22 C-Max Hybrid 820 1009 995 966 23 Fusion Energi 763 762 703 707 24 Prius V 728 835 837 773 25 C-Max Energi 683 705 844 936 26 i3 538 504 601 567 27 5-Series Plug in 511 345 343 239 28 Malibu... -
It will soon be a great time to take your EV for a road trip out West
Gov. Hickenlooper joins 6 western governors in committing to EV charging station build out on highways
Western governors set sights on electric vehicle charging network spanning seven states
Deal signed to ease EV range anxiety with fast-charge network along 11 Interstate highways
Forget outfitting 2,000 miles of U.S. highways with electric vehicle charging stations. Why not go for 5,000?
Gov. John Hickenlooper on Wednesday said he and the governors of six other Western states have a plan to create a network of fast-charge stations that will ease range anxiety among electric vehicle drivers traveling along major transportation corridors in the region.
Eleven interstate highways — including Interstates 25, 70 and 76 in Colorado — were highlighted as initial target corridors in a network covering more than 5,000 road miles.
“This is an investment. Not... -
Ford to expand EV offerings (Automotive News)
Ford Motor Co. said Monday it will increase its battery electric vehicle offerings beyond the 300-mile range crossover EV it plans to offer by 2020.
The automaker is setting up an internal team named "Team Edison" to study and develop fully electric cars. It will be separate from Ford's other electrification efforts, which include hybrid and plug-in hybrid offerings.
"We see an inflection point in the major markets toward battery electric vehicles," Sherif Marakby, Ford's head of electrification and autonomous vehicles told Automotive News. "We feel it's important to have a cross-functional team all the way from defining the strategy plans and implementation to advanced marketing."
Marakby said Ford is on track to deliver 13 electrified vehicles over the next five years. The automaker has announced seven of those vehicles, which include the 300-mile range crossover. He said Ford will increase the number of battery electric vehicles it will offer, but did not offer details or a...
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