Toyota: Plug in Hybrids will have limited appeal (from N.Y. Times)

royrose · 06-07-2009, 10:47 AM

Here is a link to an article on the front page of the Times. the gist of the article is that Toyota made a presentation at a conference in New York in which they said that the added weight and complexity will reduce milage for those that regularly drive beyond the plug in range:

Toyota: Plug-in Hybrids Will Have Limited Appeal - Wheels Blog - NYTimes.com

It includes a nice pic of a Blizzard Pearl 2010.

Roy

pdth · 06-07-2009, 02:55 PM

I'm inclined to agree that plug-ins have a limited market in the near term, but I think it looks a lot better in the longer term. I'd buy one right now if our household power were from a renewable source. Unfortunately, we get our power from IREA, which swears up and down that dinosaurs still roam the earth making hydrocarbons, and will defend its coal-fired power plant investments to the death or bankruptcy.

usbseawolf2000 · 06-07-2009, 11:42 PM

This may mean Toyota has a better solution. I am thinking a smaller and lighter pure EV?

patsparks · 06-07-2009, 11:48 PM

Prius has linited appeal to, and it was very limited in the early days of Prius.
Build it and converts will come.

cycledrum · 06-08-2009, 12:16 AM

I guess we'll be finding out how 'obsolete' the Prius is becoming (according to some) .... based on sales of the 2010.

I really don't think it will fade away. I like my car a lot and the new one is much better.

cycledrum · 06-08-2009, 12:19 AM

This may seem like nitpicking, but ....

what happens on a plug-in hybrid when one rarely uses gas in the tank? Don't you end up with some pretty stale gasoline after a while? Or do you end up using fuel stabilizer?

Or, I suppose plug-in folks end up using gas anyway for the freeway, high-load conditions.

06-07-2009, 10:47 AM	#1
royrose Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Manitou Springs, CO Posts: 317 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: No Package Thanks: 17 Thanked 34 Times in 30 Posts Friends: 0	Toyota: Plug in Hybrids will have limited appeal (from N.Y. Times) Here is a link to an article on the front page of the Times. the gist of the article is that Toyota made a presentation at a conference in New York in which they said that the added weight and complexity will reduce milage for those that regularly drive beyond the plug in range: Toyota: Plug-in Hybrids Will Have Limited Appeal - Wheels Blog - NYTimes.com It includes a nice pic of a Blizzard Pearl 2010. Roy

06-07-2009, 02:55 PM	#2
pdth Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Castle Pines North, CO Posts: 85 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: II Package: N/A Thanks: 6 Thanked 32 Times in 9 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Toyota: Plug in Hybrids will have limited appeal (from N.Y. Times) I'm inclined to agree that plug-ins have a limited market in the near term, but I think it looks a lot better in the longer term. I'd buy one right now if our household power were from a renewable source. Unfortunately, we get our power from IREA, which swears up and down that dinosaurs still roam the earth making hydrocarbons, and will defend its coal-fired power plant investments to the death or bankruptcy. Last edited by pdth; 06-07-2009 at 02:57 PM.

06-07-2009, 11:42 PM	#3
usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 3,254 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 106 Thanked 178 Times in 111 Posts Friends: 59	Re: Toyota: Plug in Hybrids will have limited appeal (from N.Y. Times) This may mean Toyota has a better solution. I am thinking a smaller and lighter pure EV?

06-07-2009, 11:48 PM	#4
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,229 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 124 Thanked 182 Times in 140 Posts Friends: 33	Re: Toyota: Plug in Hybrids will have limited appeal (from N.Y. Times) Prius has linited appeal to, and it was very limited in the early days of Prius. Build it and converts will come.

06-08-2009, 12:16 AM	#5
cycledrum Prius Aficionado Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Union City, CA Posts: 1,422 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 27 Thanked 42 Times in 31 Posts Friends: 4	Re: Toyota: Plug in Hybrids will have limited appeal (from N.Y. Times) I guess we'll be finding out how 'obsolete' the Prius is becoming (according to some) .... based on sales of the 2010. I really don't think it will fade away. I like my car a lot and the new one is much better.

06-08-2009, 12:19 AM	#6
cycledrum Prius Aficionado Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Union City, CA Posts: 1,422 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 27 Thanked 42 Times in 31 Posts Friends: 4	Re: Toyota: Plug in Hybrids will have limited appeal (from N.Y. Times) This may seem like nitpicking, but .... what happens on a plug-in hybrid when one rarely uses gas in the tank? Don't you end up with some pretty stale gasoline after a while? Or do you end up using fuel stabilizer? Or, I suppose plug-in folks end up using gas anyway for the freeway, high-load conditions.

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