Featured Threads Archive

2025 Prius plug in hybrid- can’t figure how to turn off or reduce assist parking. Duh. I turned it on but now I don’t want it on with the maximum's distance setting.

Previously sold as Prius c in the US, Aqua HEV will not be available in the US. It looks similar to Gen 5 Prius HEV/PHEV.

Toyota Prius’ smaller brother stole its face | Carscoops

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Large lithium batteries should never be shipped as tightly as ICE vehicles. But it draws attention to a latent design defect of EV traction batteries ... the absence of a battery "flood" port.

One of the better EV fire tools is a very high pressure, water wand. Effectively a "water jet" cutting tool on a wand, it can cut into the battery case and then flood the cells. Once water cooled, the EV fire effectively goes away.

Speculation, two "water jet" ports on either side of an EV would likely solve the problem. This would let fire fighting crews quickly flood the pack with enough water to stop thermal runaway. It still requires prompt removal to a disassembly yard equipped to handle a battery run-away. Not trivial but necessary for public safety.

So I have two EVs and a solar roof, buffer battery. The two cars are parked several feet away from the house. But the battery is mounted on the exterior, shady side of kitchen wall. Fire risk,...

Please don't let his enthusiasm do more than enhance your skepticism. Along with Sandy Munro, I have a lot of respect for this presenter. Every point he makes matched my understanding of Engineering. There are some minor technical details we would disagree with such as automated driving. Regardless, he is showing a well designed car. A surprise to me, leasing being cheaper but this may be a transient event.

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I am not shopping for my next EV. If when I am, I can get an acceptable quality, automated driving package, even 3d party, I would consider a Licid in the future. In March 2019, Lucid was not an option so I bought a Tesla Model 3 and paid extra for AutoPilot.

Bob Wilson

Source: https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/tesla-ordered-by-florida-jury-pay-243-million-fatal-autopilot-crash-2025-08-01/


In April 2019, AutoPilot saved me, my wife, and our dog from a crash when I had a medical emergency. Traveling to Decatur, I had five, "micro-sleep" events and the car stayed in the lane instead of going off the road, down a ditch, and hitting a power or fence post. Yes, AutoPilot had bugs which I was mapping at the time that were eventually resolved but it was...

https://www.autoblog.com/news/major-safety-body-clamping-down-on-touchscreens

It will be 3-5 years, but this is what I would enjoy:

• carries a 4x8 ft sheet of plywood
• 2-5 seats
• ~250-325 mi range
• Mini Cooper wheel base
• NACS charging port
• Built-in 2" receiver

My Model 3 will reach End Of Life then as any future replacement battery would be "unobtainum." Open Source AutoPilot has reached a usable state. Right size for an old guy.

The only problem, the front tires will throw up a lot of road dirt in the rain. I suspect the production ones will have a proper cover for the front wheels. Now if they could just put a proper MicroBus body on it.

Bob Wilson

Really. I'm not kidding. Trump will provide the $5 billion allotted to NEVI (National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure) for building new public EV charging stations.

I'm not sure if this is some sort of goodwill, or just being forced to do something congress had previously approved of. Let's hope it's the former, not the latter.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/the-trump-administration-will-in-fact-provide-that-5-billion-in-funds-to-build-ev-chargers/ar-AA1KowdN

Ford is calling it another Model T moment, anoucing their new EV platform.

New ways (for Ford) to manufacture, like unicastings, and materials like LFP batteries.

Copper Adjusting Imports of Copper into the United States – The White House

Lithium CATL suspends lithium mine production for 3 months due to expired permit, report says - CnEVPost

Recently we treated the Prius to a brand new 12v battery...We paid £200 for a Toyota 12v battery fitted by Toyota. I have taken the car to Toyota only 3 timed since 2008 as they are expensive and push the work...After a couple of days for the first time ever the Prius was not at all well. This was 6 weeks ago...Since then she has gone to Toyota twice...once to check the installation of the new 12v battery and the second time last Monday for a diagnostic inspection to trace the cause....they failed! However, they did give me a costed quote for the repairs on non-related work. The repair costs were well above other garages! I spoke to Toyota UK who said they would investigate but nothing from them to date.

Her problems....
The Prius is a 2007, Gen 2. No custom jobs on her. She has done over 267k British miles..no major repairs. Never let us down. Her name is Poppy. Using the fob primary alarm goes off..
Sometimes we press the fob again and the alarm goes off....other times it goes...

A recent 2,245 mile trip inspired benchmarking and generating this graph:

• Drive segments lines at 40, 60, and 80 mph intersect at zero with the charge curve.
  • Limited to 3 hours (180 minutes) of driving
  • Maximum 30 minutes of charging in 10, 20, and 30 minutes

A horizontal line from one of the three speed lines to the charge curve gives the total minutes for one driving segment, the sum of driving time and charging time. For example, driving at 80 mph for an hour:

• -60 minutes to drive 80 mph
• +8 minutes to charge for that distance at that speed
• 60 + 8 = 68 minutes for that segment
• 80 mi * (60 / 68) = 70.6 mph equivalent speed combined driving and charging

Driving at 80 mph for an hour with required charging, the block-to-block speed will at best be 70 mph or 70 / 80 = 87.5% of the EV driving speed. This leads to a more useful summary chart.

Here is a chart of block-to-block, speed...

Toyota Wowen City is Toyota’s software- and AI-driven products development and testing company. It is still in infant stages, but it is expanding. Its products will include TSS, Arene, and beyond.

12 new companies join Toyota Woven City as inventors | Corporate | Global newsroom | Toyota Motor Corporation official global website

Nissan is producing a motor using an electro-magnet rotor which eliminates the need for permanent magnets:


The same as running an alternator as a motor, this is a brilliant solution as it also solves the problem of back-EMF that requires 'field weakening' in traditional motors. There is no free lunch as the rotor coils require power but the dynamic range of efficient power production is well worth it.

Bob Wilson

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Seeking simple aesthetically good repair method that will halt deterioration

Innovative suggestions are appreciated

Source: Daily Automotive News


I have plenty of EVs but if you're on the fence, a relatively low cost to 'test the waters.'

Bob Wilson

The Mazda Skyactiv-Z engine will become commercially available in 2027, and when it does, it will power the new CX-5, which is coming in 2026. It is designed to work in hybrid systems. I doubt they will beat the thermal efficiency of the new super-lean-burn Toyota engines, which are also on the horizon and will be available for the Gen 6 Prius around 2027.

Where engine dreams meet possibilities: The SKYACTIV-Z challenge and Mazda’s internal-combustion-focused electrification strategy

The new hybrid powertrain with Skyactiv-Z will be available in the 2027 CX-5, even though the vehicle is going to see its major redesign the year before in 2026, with “Google built in.”

Mazda reveals all-new 2026 CX-5—Jul 10, 2025 | Mazda USA News

I'm a great fan of Sandy Munro and this is why:
- YouTube

It also explains why he isn't invited as often as he should be.

Bob Wilson