the gas bladder: exposed!

[Frank Hudon]

all north american Prius have the bladder.

[spf]

This really annoys me. Why would the USA require different standards than the rest of the world? China and India are polluting the world so much nore than than the usa is, in particularly regards to Co2 emissions. In fact, my understanding is that China has said that it's 'their turn" to catch up to what the usa has accomplished over the last 100 years economically. It is one thing to set an example and to do what we think "is right", but if China's pollution contributes 50% of the world's pollution and we contribute, say 15%, what is the real issue here? Are we killing ourselves to make a decent contribution while the rest of the world doesn't give a rip and goes on to ruin the earth's environment?

I don't mind if we do our best to be good stewards, but to what extent, and are we demanding the same things from other countries?

Originally Posted by wyounger

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Oxo @ Apr 7 2007, 12:35 PM) [snapback]419418[/snapback]</div>

The bladder is fitted in US models in order to qualify for the PZEV emissions rating in California and the handful of US states that have adopted the California emissions standards. They could have made the bladder just for those states, but elected to just put them in all Priuses. The Prius is not the only car that has a bladder-type fuel tank now, either; offhand I am aware of PZEV models of the Camry, Focus, Subaru Legacy, Nissan Sentra...

The reason they all are adopting the bladders is that the PZEV standard prescribes, on top of hydrocarbon, NOx, etc., limits, a specification of ZERO evaporative emissions while the car is parked. In most cars, even with an evaporative canister, some fuel still manages to evaporate out of the tank. By adopting the bladder, the fuel doesn't ever have an air space around it and no evaporation can occur.

I have no firsthand experience of it but I have read that the bladder is not included in Prii sent elsewhere in the world. I don't know what you might find in a Canadian model, either.

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by spf

. . .
I don't mind if we do our best to be good stewards, . . .

In this the bladder is an advanced technology so we burn, not evaporate, our gas.

Bob Wilson

[qbee42]

You wouldn't want to live in a Chinese city; you can't breath. It used to be like that in the U.S.; I don't want to go back to it.

Tom

[bwilson4web]

I remember my first drive to California in 1972 and being on an access ramp when the pollution caused my eyes to tear-up like they had when I went through the gas chamber training in the Marines. I made it through the access ramp but soon found a wash cloth to wet down and wipe my eyes. It was blinding as well a choking.

From my standpoint, not having to wear a gas mask while driving; not having to put up with smoker's cough from driving; and converting all of the gas into relatively inert gases; this is a fundamental USA health requirement. Then there is the economic impact.

As we become better at efficiently using our transportation and other energy sources, we reduce future loss of our wealth. That is another fundamental reason why we come first and that means seeing the whole picture, beyond the faux economics of those who want to destroy both our heath and future economic wealth.

Bob Wilson

[Rich96c4ce]

Originally Posted by galaxee

[NOTE: with the server change, the pictures are now in order but at the very bottom of this post. check em out!]...........more about overfill damage/why the tank was replaced in the first place, look here.................

The "look here" link is broken. Can someone fix it? Thanks.

[patsparks]

Originally Posted by spf

This really annoys me. Why would the USA require different standards than the rest of the world? China and India are polluting the world so much nore than than the usa is, in particularly regards to Co2 emissions. In fact, my understanding is that China has said that it's 'their turn" to catch up to what the usa has accomplished over the last 100 years economically. It is one thing to set an example and to do what we think "is right", but if China's pollution contributes 50% of the world's pollution and we contribute, say 15%, what is the real issue here? Are we killing ourselves to make a decent contribution while the rest of the world doesn't give a rip and goes on to ruin the earth's environment?

I don't mind if we do our best to be good stewards, but to what extent, and are we demanding the same things from other countries?

Well actually on a per capita basis the USA polutes about 4 times worse than China or India.

[hobbit]

The broken link should be thread 29844.
.
See this discussion on how to translate broken thread number links
into their new counterparts.
.
_H*

[galaxee]

i fixed the link in the text and am working to get the pictures back in the text, instead of at the bottom of the page.

[ekpolk]

Well, I commend Toyota for doing their best to keep things clean, but I'm still left wondering about the whole bladder thing. Now that I'm driving a TCH (though my great little Prius is still here, in my son's custody), I can't believe how un-scary and un-worrisome refueling has become. It will fill right to the neck with no fuss at all -- perfect for its OCD owner... But more on point, if they were able to make the TCH as clean as it is, with no bladder, why on earth does the Prius really need this Rube Goldberg regurgitating fuel tank???

I'd venture to speculate that all of the bulk raw fuel eruptions experienced by brand new Prius owners have gone a long way toward cancelling out the benefits provided by the evaporative control the system otherwise.