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True? Toyota just killed the PiP?

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by DavidA, Jul 27, 2014.

  1. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the pip is not an ev. an ev is an electric vehicle. no other motive fuel. the pip is a plug in hybrid, best of all worlds.(y)
     
  2. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Definitely a fine car, and worthy of future generations.

    Personally though, I am more attracted to (long distance) HV car +(short distance) EV car for my family. I would be there already if I could put up PV at home. So I for one hope for a flourishing EV segment. I do think though that the attempt to make it into a full fledged replacement for any family car is a misplaced goal.
     
    #22 SageBrush, Jul 27, 2014
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if i didn't have to pay full insurance for every vehicle, (even though i can only drive one at a time) i would have a leaf or something similar, and a lift back prius.
     
  4. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Now that the kids are out of the house, I asked my wife if she would consider downsizing to a one car household. It would not be that much of a stretch since I prefer a bicycle if I am not going to work, and work is only twice a week.

    <response redacted>
     
    #24 SageBrush, Jul 27, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2014
  5. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Those errors are extremely common with many 'reporters'.
     
  6. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    In the past Toyota has described hybrid technology as being a bridge technology.

    I personally think, as long as the majority of the automotive world is ICE based, with an infrastructure that primarily supports fossil fuel burning ICE vehicles, then Hybrids will be a vital alternative, that offers better gas mileage and lower emissions.

    That article interestingly suggests that Toyota is focusing more of their research and development on fuel cell based vehicles.

    But in the mean time? There is nothing to suggest Toyota has abandoned the "bridge" they are on, that they themselves have been so fundamental in building.

    I don't know how much commitment Toyota might have to the PiP. But I define the PiP as what it is...that is quite frankly...a Plug In Prius.
    Or a Plug in Hybrid...

    It may have a greater capacity to run as a EV vehicle, but it's still a hybrid. So I don't know if I read that article as meaning Toyota has abandoned the PiP.

    Toyota's support of the PiP might have a lot more to do with expected market for them and cost to produce. But the PiP is part of the Hybrid bridge that Toyota has built.

    That would be the question.

    IMO the second "P" in PiP stands for Prius....and there is no FULL EV Prius...which means the Plug in Prius....is exactly what it is...a plug in Hybrid. So I personally wouldn't define it as a Full EV...but more precisely and correctly as a Hybrid that can be plugged in.

    I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that Toyota defines the Plug in Prius as a full EV.

    But the question is what definition does Toyota apply to the Plug In Prius?
     
    #26 The Electric Me, Jul 27, 2014
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  7. Prius Team

    Prius Team Toyota Marketing USA

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    Correct, it is not the case.
     
  8. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Guess your recent revelation of the latest advertising campaign for the Plug In Prius would suggest that Toyota is clearly NOT killing the Plug In Prius.
     
  9. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    The Rav4 EV.
     
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  10. drysider

    drysider Active Member

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    Toyota just initiated a new Plug-In ad campaign. I do not think they would do this if they were going to cancel the model.
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    then again, it's only on u tube, maybe they're just trying to move what's left of inventory.
     
  12. Stevevee

    Stevevee Active Member

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    I would think by now, most everyone would be aware that a PIP is not an EV, it's a hybrid. Yes, you can force feed it some electric juice and make it go further and dramatically make the mpg go higher. But, it's a hybrid. In fact, it's such a good hybrid, that it's not even practical now to make it an ev. You know, those pesky costs and all that.

    This was an article from May, confirming the obvious.

    Tesla Deal To Supply Toyota RAV4 EV Powertrain To End This Year.

    It's not ready to be an ev world yet, and neither are the power companies ready.
     
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    of course, the power companies will never be 'ready'. that would involve using some of their obscene profits to upgrade the infrastructure. we're gonna have to ram it down their throats.:cool:
     
  14. Stevevee

    Stevevee Active Member

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    The best model for power utilities now would be Washington state. Not surprising given their mix of power. Utility companies don't have obscene profits, they are dramatically behind the eight ball when it comes to power grid upgrades and increased regulations. If you want to add more capacity with less emissions to accommodate your laundry list of wishes, you'll have to accommodate the needs of plants to invest in alternative sources, at a cost. We all know that the true battles over power sources are more emotional than reality-based.
     
  15. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    that's funny - that the power companies aren't ready yet. Our home's AC (like most across the U.S.) pulls more than double the kW's that our L2 on-board charger pulls. How is it so many freak out at thoughts of charging cars, claiming the grid isn't ready yet .... but the grid' just fine, if someone installs a 5 ton AC unit ... or builds another track of 1,000 homes ... or another 2 million Sq ft of tilt-up commercial buildings go on line. This is the same logic as saying that our country's south-west is in a severe drought ... and yet there's plenty of water for a thousand golf courses across Southern California and Vegas areas. It's the same logic as saying, "It's not ready to be an ev world yet "
    Yea it won't ever be ready - not as long as we can blow through the next generation's share of subsidized fossil / carbon energy & capitalize on other country's natural resources - conscience free ... then be too ignorant to understand why those same country's want to go to war against us.
    I wonder how bad things will have to get in order to be ready.
    .
     
  16. jameskatt

    jameskatt Member

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    Funny. You're going from a $32,000 car to a $120,000 car.
    That extra $88,000 can sure buy a lot of gas.
    That is enough gas to let the regular Prius IV run 1.1 MILLION MILES.

    Tesla is simply not good enough and is overpriced. It doesn't even have enough range to give you freedom when driving long distances. You always have to carefully chart your path or you are stuck every 275 miles.

    When Tesla comes out with a $50,000 car that gets 700 miles per charge, then it can talk.
     
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  17. jameskatt

    jameskatt Member

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    Note that the Prius PIP is simply a Prius with a larger battery. It is not an electric car.

    Toyota is betting that hydrogen fuel cells are the future for cars.
    Hydrogen fuel cells are completely clean, environmentally friendly, and are renewable - even with solar and wind power.
    They can certainly go longer distances than hybrids. And they can have more power than hybrids.
    And they can be lighter than hybrids.
    And they can be made CHEAPER than hybrids or electric cars.
    And, there can be hydrogen fuel stations everywhere since hydrogen fuel cells can also be stored - unlike the electricity from Tesla charging stations.

    I think this is a great direction to go.
     
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  18. jameskatt

    jameskatt Member

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    Toyota simply stated they think fully electric cars are a dead direction to go.

    The limitations of battery technology simply make it difficult to create inexpensive high quality electric cars that the vast majority of people will want to buy. These days, few people buy hybrids since the gas-only cars have reached near parity. Gas cars are commonly getting 40 miles per gallon.

    So Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, and other major manufacturers see Hydrogen Fuel Cells as the best way to get completely clean, environmentally friendly, renewable-source energy, affordable cars on the road.

    And OIL COMPANIES certainly will back them up. Exxon and the other oil companies have huge profits. They see the writing on the wall when it comes to harsher limitations on gas cars. And Hydrogen Fuel Cells are certainly an alternative source of fuel for cars that they an do easily.

    The Auto Manufacturers and Oil Companies can add Hydrogen Fuel Cell charging stations to EVERY GAS STATION in the World. The same thing cannot be said of electric cars.

    In Japan, the experience with electric cars has been HORRIBLE. Taxi drivers hate to drive them. If Taxi drivers hate to drive your cars, you know you have a lot of problems.

    Hybrid cars are the compromise - the last gasp of the gas burning world.
    Hydrogen Fuel Cells are the future. And they are soon coming. And they will outstrip anything that Tesla can do.
     
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  19. -1-

    -1- Don

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    o_OThis is the BEST pro/con, thought provoking thread I've read since I joined eighteen months ago. EXCELLENT information.
     
  20. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

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    Illogical, misleading opening there James. Frankly, it was just dishonest.
    The Tesla starts at $71,000 not $120,000 ($64,000 after the rebate).

    They have won numerous awards and is the best, all around car in the world.
    It has also given us MORE flexibility for trips than our previous cars. The time required to plan out our trip routes has been less than the time we took to plan out our hotels.