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Delay in the release of the Li-battery based Prius?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by hockeydad, Feb 13, 2010.

  1. hockeydad

    hockeydad New Member

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    You need to re-think this statement. The current Prius brake issue EXPLODED only (IMO) because of REAL PROBLEMS that Toyota was having with a number of it's other vehicles. The Prius got swept up uin the hype and hysteria over percieve Toyota quality problems. Look at the timing and sequence of events...

    That said, it is my opinion that Prius sales numbers, and Prius re-sale value, and new Prius products will be LINKED to the general publics perception of Toyota, and whether the general public has confidence that Toyota is (again) building cars without defects.

    The point that many here fail to grasp is that this is an image problem that Toyota has...the merits/problems/issues of individual models is imaterial to the overall image problem that toyota currently has.
     
  2. Harold Bien

    Harold Bien Member

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    From what I recall, the Li based Prius has already been delayed before all these recall campaigns were issued. The major factor they still are trying to address is safety and reliability. I was interested in Li as I felt it would be the next-generation battery technology (improved compared to NiMH) but I understand their difficulties. Recall the "exploding battery laptop" fiasco that occurred awhile back. Li is a very reactive material, and it doesn't take much to light it off. The optimal charge/discharge cycle is also markedly different from NiMH so it would take quite a re-working of the entire hybrid drive system technology I fear.
     
  3. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    So won't it render this entire thread moot?
     
  4. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Agreed, we still celebrate ridiculous holidays like Columbus day. LOL
     
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    It'll be 5 years, you think that isn't long enough? i tihnk that's plenty of time given people have short memory or they're willing to forgive after seeing results.

    do people care if there's an all new engine in the car? Do you care? This engine is brand new. Aren't you worried that it hasn't been tested enough? Or do you trust it because an engine has been around for 100 years?

    you're asking him to prove after saying that it's his opinion and you have your own? :confused::confused::confused:
     
  6. hockeydad

    hockeydad New Member

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    No, not at all. The question is, how long is "short"?
     
  7. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    The 2010 is a long year. This whole hysteria will be a distant memory by the time the 2011 rolls around, but the Li-battery based Prius might be delayed for other reasons.
     
  8. hockeydad

    hockeydad New Member

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    5 years? Really? Thought it was going to be 2011 or 2012? It's being tested right now in Europe and the US... Last thing I read about the plug-in Prius estimated it's release in late 2011 (maybe as a 2012 model). So how does the intro into the 2011 model year (late), or early 2012 model year constitute 5 years? Is this the new math? :rolleyes:


    It's a 1.8 liter engine. I have no idea what engine options that Toyota has outside the US, but I do know that 1.8 liter engine in Europe is old, old stuff. It may be "brand new" for the Prius, but I suspect all, or a major portion of this engine has been around a long time in toyota's arsenal.




    My "opinion" is based on sound business practices/models. As I said, there are plenty of examples that illustrate what I am talking about. The LAST thing Toyota would want to do, or need is to make a major change to one of it's products, and have that change have problems/issues. They need to circle the wagons, and make 100% sure that their products are rock solid reliable before introducing anymore changes. Perhaps if you had read the Washington Post article I linked/cited, you would know one of the problems industry "experts" pointed to as one of Toyota's problems was introducing too many technological changes, to too many models, too often. They need to slow down, and make sure the existing products they are currently selling, are bullet-proof. After all, that's what Toyota is founded on - reliability.

    His "opinion", your "opinion" is based on what? A blind devotion to Prius? To Toyota? Please, try to be more objective for a change.

    IMO, the only real unknow that could keep it on track, or even acellerate the timeline are oil prices and the demand for the Prius turning up.
     
  9. hockeydad

    hockeydad New Member

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    Save this post, and we will re-visit your prediction that this will be a "distant memory by the time 2011 rolls around". You are aware that the 2011 model year is just a few months away?

    As I said, the success (in terms of sales and new products) of the Prius is linked to all of Toyota. Something like 8 million cars have been recalled...so we shall see what the consumers ultimately have to say months from now after all the recalls have been completed, and maybe, all the complaints have stopped. If you listen to people like the Woz, who complained about something besides his brakes on his Prius, there may be more latent issues still to come...? We shall see.
     
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Well I was thinking the new Prius with Li-Ion. didn't realise you were talking abut the PHEV.


    Well the 1.8 litre is brand new across the lineup. It's the 2ZR-FE engine. The old engine is a 1ZZ-FE engine. How much of it is brand new and how much is re-used, I have no idea but it definitely isn't the same 1.8 litre as before. The old 1NZ-FE 1.5 litre engine in the old Prius is old and dates back to 1999 with the launch of the Vitz/Yaris/Echo.

    Ignorance is bliss, ain't it? ;)
     
  11. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    We still have quite a few more months to go as the 2011 isn't debuting early like the 2010. I haven't seen any official word what the 2011 will bring so we may never know as to the reason.