Toyota Wary of PHEV Consumer Demand

[kram]

"Toyota Motor, maker of the best-selling gasoline-electric car in the world, has said that extensive U.S. consumer tests are needed before it offers hybrids that can be recharged at household outlets for limited all-electric driving.

"There is a consumer market at some price-point for plug-ins," Bill Reinert, national manager for advanced vehicle technology at Toyota's U.S. unit, said during an interview Thursday. "We just don't yet know the size of that market.""

More at:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/26/blo.../bxelectric.php

[a priori]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kram @ Aug 27 2007, 09:38 AM) [snapback]502697[/snapback]</div>

"Toyota Motor, maker of the best-selling gasoline-electric car in the world, has said that extensive U.S. consumer tests are needed before it offers hybrids that can be recharged at household outlets for limited all-electric driving."[/b]

Who did the consumer testing for GM that convinced GM there would be 60,000 first-year buyers for a $30,000 PHEV (of unknown quality)?

[jweale]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(a priori @ Aug 27 2007, 12:06 PM) [snapback]502726[/snapback]</div>

Who did the consumer testing for GM that convinced GM there would be 60,000 first-year buyers for a $30,000 PHEV (of unknown quality)?
[/b]

GM needs the PR, even if they have to give away the cars. That is assuming, rashly, that they will actually follow through and build them versus milking the concept cars for a bit of green washing. It doesn't matter if there is a market for them or not, in fact if GM takes a beating on the offering it may help their lobbying efforts. Win-win for them, although the EV-1 suggests they may not be willing to take one one of those wins. Toyota doesn't need any green street cred and they already have a green halo effect (how many corollas are sold to people who can't wait or quite justify the cost of a Prius?), so Toyota does not have the same do-or-die motivation as GM.

And I don't mean to attack GM. I'm rooting for them, even over Toyota. When people attack GM's green engineering chops, it is important to remember that they did the EV-1, which towards the end was quite a nice little beastie (over 100 mile range, and one kitted out for speed broke 180 mph) - and that was almost a decade ago. With modern batts and the sort of production savings from a Prius scale component ramp up, they could really offer a killer EV with a bare minimum of design time just by doing a mild EV-1 rework and releasing it as EV-2. I believe they have the capability to make their hybrid an equally great vehicle, one that could surpass the Prius in many ways (short commutes in particular) it's just a question of their will.

[bobdavisnpf]

I agree. I expect to buy a $30K PHEV from whoever releases first. I'd like to see GM trump Toyota on this. Frankly, I think Toyota would like to see a US automaker meet the US pioneer demand too.

[donee]

Hi All,
Maybe GM will make the engine/generator optional in the Volt? The only issue would be heat in the winter. Which would be no issue at all in southern AZ, CA and TX, Gulf Coast and Florida, not to mention Shanghai, Hong Kong , the surrounding provinces, all of SE Asia (including Singapore), the metropolitan portions of the Indian sub-continent , Brazil and Mexico.

It could happen.

[Topgas]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kram @ Aug 27 2007, 10:38 AM) [snapback]502697[/snapback]</div>

"Toyota Motor, maker of the best-selling gasoline-electric car in the world, has said that extensive U.S. consumer tests are needed before it offers hybrids that can be recharged at household outlets for limited all-electric driving.

"There is a consumer market at some price-point for plug-ins," Bill Reinert, national manager for advanced vehicle technology at Toyota's U.S. unit, said during an interview Thursday. "We just don't yet know the size of that market.""

More at:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/26/blo.../bxelectric.php
[/b]

I really think none of the car makers wants this electric vehicle thing to happen. There's no money in it for them.

[Earthling]

Many people have asked me if I have to plug in my Prius. I have to go into my usual spiel about not having to plug the car in, that it charges itself.

It's a valid question for Toyota to ask how many people actually would buy a plug-in hybrid. Despite the prospect of incredible gas mileage, many people are loathe to plug a car in at night to charge it.

Harry

[rfred]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Earthling @ Aug 28 2007, 06:58 AM) [snapback]503157[/snapback]</div>

Many people have asked me if I have to plug in my Prius. I have to go into my usual spiel about not having to plug the car in, that it charges itself.

It's a valid question for Toyota to ask how many people actually would buy a plug-in hybrid. Despite the prospect of incredible gas mileage, many people are loathe to plug a car in at night to charge it.

Harry
[/b]

About people loathe to plug in their car at night - you're kidding, aren't you?

[brad34695]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Topgas @ Aug 27 2007, 09:01 PM) [snapback]502955[/snapback]</div>

I really think none of the car makers wants this electric vehicle thing to happen. There's no money in it for them.
[/b]

Bingo! I think that one sentance nails it. There would be very little money made on repairs and maintance that helps fuel (pardon the pun) auto industry income stream. Plus who's to say that big oil didn't give GM $$$ to kill the EV-1. I hate to sound like a paranoia pessimist, but reality in today's world causes that to happen from time to time.

[finman]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brad34695 @ Aug 28 2007, 07:46 PM) [snapback]503497[/snapback]</div>

Bingo! I think that one sentance nails it. There would be very little money made on repairs and maintance that helps fuel (pardon the pun) auto industry income stream. Plus who's to say that big oil didn't give GM $$$ to kill the EV-1. I hate to sound like a paranoia pessimist, but reality in today's world causes that to happen from time to time.
[/b]

Paranoid pessimist? It's called reality theory, not conspiracy theory. Who Killed the Electric car for those needing a wake-up call. We are all being duped. And not just on our oil/energy front. So good is the duping that hardly anyone cares...