Featured Truck sales: bad news

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by bwilson4web, Sep 22, 2025 at 12:17 PM.

  1. T1 Terry

    T1 Terry Active Member

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    Fortunately, the Prius hate never really happened over here, but early adopters all drove slow with slow acceleration
    for some reason ..... maybe lack of confidence in what the mighty machines could do.
    My first eye opener regarding the gen 2 Prius was a trip trying to keep up with a Gen 2 in our '74 Kombi and being very impressed with just how well it accelerated and held the speed limit up hill and down the other side.

    The truck driver poor training seems to have crept in over here as well, along with the "Maharaj" truck drivers who don't seem to have any truck driving skill worth mentioning, they seem to buy a licence back home, then use that to get an Australian heavy vehicle licence.

    So, it's more a driver shortage over here than lack of work to keep the industry viable ....

    T1 Terry
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i question if most of the commercial drivers here even have licenses
     
  3. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    We've had some awesome Aussi Prius Friends in the past. About Prius speed:
    • NHW11 (2001-2003 model year) small sedan - had a design flaw in the gearing that forced the engine to run above ~68 mph (if I remember correctly.) This flaw became the "knee in the curve." Below that speed, 52 MPG all day long. Above that speed, below 48 MPG.
    • NHW20 (2004-later) hatchback - the critical speed moved to ~85 mph and they all got faster.
    Another Aussi, Julian Edgar, did wonderful work on home-grown, vehicle testing. His book “Vehicle Aerodynamics - Testing, Modification & Development" is by my side as I type this.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #23 bwilson4web, Sep 24, 2025 at 12:31 AM
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2025 at 9:49 AM
  4. ETC(SS)

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

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    Welp.....INTERESTING you should point that out!

    More may have US licenses starting about a month ago.....
    ........The U.S. has temporarily suspended the issuance of work visas for commercial truck drivers (including the H-2B, E-2, and EB-3 classifications) to conduct a comprehensive review of screening and vetting protocols, effective immediately as of late August 2025.

    SO....the good news is that there will be fewer out-of-work drivers driving all of those trucks that are not being built and sold. :ROFLMAO:
     
  5. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Further reducing the production of those who depend on trucks to move the goods, raw materials, and machinery needed.

    Bob Wilson