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Toyota’s greenwashing AI ‘eco-copilot’ is fake, but the prank makes a real point


Toyota's greenwashing AI 'eco-copilot' is fake, but the prank makes a real point

“Toyota” announced a new eco-conscious AI copilot at the DC Auto Show yesterday, which promises to reduce environmental impact by up to 10% – but it turns out the whole thing was a prank, and the prank makes a real point about Toyota’s tendency towards greenwashing.

The announcement involved a press event at the National Press Club, along with official-looking press release and even a whole website. The press release fooled...

This is not a problem for me in Southern California, but it looks like the current-state-of-the-art BEV technology is far from being ready for prime time in extremely cold weather. I can imagine what a pain it was for these drivers. I wonder how my 2021 Prius Prime would charge in that cold.





Dead Teslas pack Oak Brook Supercharger station due to cold weather

What is news to me is that Hertz stated that Teslas are getting into more crashes than other cars.

"Besides costing more to repair when they’re damaged in a crash, Scherr also said, EVs are also getting in more crashes. Again, Teslas, which make up 80% of Hertz’s EV rental fleet, are mostly the problem in both these areas, he has said."

I wonder why this is. Could it because of

• unconventional, center-touch-screen-based controls that drivers are not used to?
• distracting center touch screen?
• drivers not knowing how to operate Autopilot?
• Autopilot itself getting the car into crashes?
• lack of a conventional blind-spot monitor?
• Teslas being driven faster and more recklessly as they are considered to be sporty cars?
• other reasons you can think of?
• a combination of the above?

Perhaps our Tesla expert @bwilson4web can comment,

Hertz is selling 1/3 of...