1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

A petition to Toyota to build electric vehicles

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by TomSwift, Nov 7, 2014.

  1. TomSwift

    TomSwift Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2006
    37
    41
    0
    Location:
    Louisville, KY
    Vehicle:
    2014 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    N/A
    A Toyota spokesperson has said that no one is asking Toyota to build electric vehicles. A petition has been created at Change.org to remind Toyota that people do want an EV from Toyota.

    The link to the petition is: Petition · Build electric cars. · Change.org

    I doubt this will make any difference to Toyota or cause them to re-think their decision to build FCEVs in lieu of, or along with, BEVs, but at least they won't be able to say that no one asked them to build an EV.

    Note some personal information is requested by the site when you "sign" the petition. Some of you (and you know who you are):) may be uncomfortable supplying that info and decline to sign for that reason, but for those of you who aren't wearing tin-foil hats, give the petition a look and, if you can support it, please, sign.
     
    #1 TomSwift, Nov 7, 2014
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2014
  2. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2005
    3,686
    699
    2
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    +1 more
     
  3. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    7,700
    6,503
    0
    Location:
    Redneck Riviera (Gulf South)
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I'll make my petitions at the dealer. :)
     
    mypriuscious and FL_Prius_Driver like this.
  4. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,121
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Sales of EVs so far DO indicate that (relatively) nobody wants them.

    But should we ask WHY not?

    Tesla are selling loads of their expensive model S. Why? Because it does what people want of a BEV; looks good, goes 300 miles on a charge and has a great warranty.
     
    Data Daedalus likes this.
  5. telmo744

    telmo744 HSD fanatic

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2010
    2,170
    764
    0
    Location:
    Portugal
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    At least some PHV throughout the line up...I would subscribe a more-grid Toyota!!
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,000
    49,089
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i think people want a bev that is like a gasser. we might get there some day. until then, sales will be limited. thanks for the link tom!(y)
     
    #6 bisco, Nov 7, 2014
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2014
  7. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    27,211
    15,440
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    There is a gap between the Leaf and model S that remains an open area.

    Bob Wilson
     
  8. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    I feel sure Toyota will make electric vehicles they make money on, in the long run.
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,000
    49,089
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    no question we need a midsize sedan/hatchback with 150 mile range for msrp 35k. i'm just not sure the costs are low enough to get there yet.
     
  10. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2005
    3,686
    699
    2
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    If Toyota will jump into the band wagon of pure electric vehicles, more likely that price will not be under 45K.
    The Rav 4 EV is one example
     
  11. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,315
    3,588
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    ...um I think Toyota probably meant to say neither CARB, nor EPA, nor EU/Asia equivs, are asking Toyota for BEV's
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,000
    49,089
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    ah ha! now it all makes sense.:cool:
     
  13. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,734
    8,098
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2018 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    Premium
    Oh yeah ... there you go ... let 'em off the hook. Chalk it up to 'mis-speak'. No - they really REALLY want Calif. taxpayers to pay for their hydrogen fiasco - plain & simple. Give folks a better alternative - like plugs, and that's one less person (of the handfull of people) that would be prone to cough up for a hydrogen lease.

    I was going to post this in the, " Toyota's Plug-in Distain - Part TWO " thread . . . . but this will work - right here. It's similar to the OP's article:

    Petitioning Toyota To Build Electric Vehicles
    Boy ... this has GOT to be bad P.R. for Toyota. But, Toyota spokes people have flat out lied - ah la GM tactics ... or am I the only one who remembers. GM lied saying in essence , "we wanted to sell the EV1 ... but no one wanted it". Then GM lied about a list of 5,000 or so, waiting for it! Then they lied there was ever a list ... until an insider leaked that bit of truth. Wanting to CYA - GM then declared that once they explained how horrible the car was - way less wanted to be on the list. Geee - go figure.

    So, what will Toyota do now ... will they pull a GM? Will Toyota claim no one signed the petition? Maybe folks will need to start a "I signed the petition" spread sheet to keep 'em honest? That's pretty sad to think. On a happier note . . . yours truly signed it - I was #480. Keep 'em coming!
    :)
    .
     
    #13 hill, Nov 7, 2014
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2014
    aventineavenue likes this.
  14. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,121
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    An easy way to petition Toyota is to replace your Prius with a Leaf, an i3, a Model S etc. If fewer or far fewer people buy the gen4, then that wake them up.

    But I do think Toyota have had it with BEVs. The IQ has been dropped over here and probably the only reason it existed in petrol form was to support the EQ that never was.
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,000
    49,089
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    it's not that easy.(n) but i would give anyone tremendous props for buying a vehicle they don't really want, just to make a point.(y)
     
  16. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,734
    8,098
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2018 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    Premium
    oh yea . . . . every single vehicle I've ever purchased over the last 3 decades was to prove a point ... even tho I really didn't want it ~
    :p
    .
     
  17. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,121
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    You take it too literally.

    It's not to prove a point, it's to take your business to a company that offers what you want. I like the Prius because it does what I want(ed). If Toyota don't offer something I want when I'm looking for a new car then I'll look elsewhere. Handing a petition in to them isn't going to change their mind one jot.
     
  18. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,734
    8,098
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2018 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    Premium
    If Toyota (or any other auto manufacturer) knows folks will call them on their BS - and that this causes them to loose credibility - then - perhaps they will at least knock off the stupid BS that destroys their credibility. It'll at least make 'em think twice.
    .
     
  19. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2008
    11,627
    2,530
    8
    Location:
    Southwest Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Anybody remember the Petition sent to GM to build the Volt ?
    IIRC there were some 10 signatories to every sale thus far.
     
  20. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2012
    3,657
    1,630
    0
    Location:
    Sanford, NC
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    How many car sold over the projected life cycle of a car model does it take to pay for development?

    Small volume items with distinctive engineering and support requirements will kill you.

    How many signatures at what actual sales per signature rate would it take?

    Toyota also has the issue of electricity availability issues in its home country over the next 10 years so are they going to be selling it there?