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LIDAR emits a strong laser beam that can damage other cameras in iPhones:



Bob Wilson

Toyota has made major improvements to the Gen 5 PHEV system found in the Gen 5 Prius PHEV. The Gen 6 PHEV system will debut with the all-new RAV4 this fall.

Among the improvements:

• The problematic refrigerant battery cooling in Gen 5 Prius PHEV, which was very hard to repair and necessitated the replacement of the traction battery when there was a leak, has been replaced with a water-cooling system now. A heat exchanger for the coolant is used.
• The new, high-power AC charger has now been put on top of the DC–AC inverter (previously located near the back seats), with the DC–DC converter below them, all sitting on top of the e-transaxle. This has been made possible by miniaturized electronics. The charging port is now in the front.
• The traction battery is now under the car at the center, improving the center of gravity for better, more precise handling.
• The cabin and cargo space has been enlarged by moving the traction battery to the underside of the car.
• The...

All of a sudden, Trump and Musk are trying to terminate each other. While Trump is trying to bring Musk’s companies down, Musk is calling for his impeachment, calling him out on Twitter as a sex trafficker who was involved with Epstein.

Trump threatens Tesla CEO Musk companies’ contracts

Source: AAA: Americans Slow to Adopt Electric Vehicles | AAA Newsroom

• High battery repair costs (62%) and
  • $1k for 5-way thermal bottle replacement
  • $9k for 47 kWh replacement battery
• purchase price (59%) are cited as key barriers to go fully electric. Other top concerns identified in this year’s survey were the perceived
  • $24 k ~= $40 k - $18 k (trade-in)
• unsuitability of EVs for long-distance travel (57%),
  • Huntsville to Las Vegas, Los Angles, Arizona, home
• a lack of convenient public charging stations (56%), and
  • Have peed in the bushes and behind transformers
• fear of running out of charge while driving (55%).
  • Once parasitic load cooling of battery caught me on a hot day.
• Thirty-one percent of those undecided or unlikely to buy an EV have safety concerns, ...

More on the all-new RAV4 SDV (software-defined vehicle) built on the new Arene software platform, also equipped with the new TSS 4.0. Thanks to the Arene software platform, Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) will now constantly evolve through over-the-air (OTA) updates while you own the vehicle, which had been missing on existing Toyota models so far. Therefore, this is the biggest breakthrough by Toyota in decades. It is being offered as an EV only, coming as an HEV and a PHEV (no BEV).

RAV4 world premiere—chief branding officer shares the story behind the new model

More on the all-new RAV4 HEV and RAV4 PHEV:

New RAV4 makes world premiere in Japan | Toyota | Global Newsroom | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website

All-new RAV4 world premiere | Toyota | Global Newsroom |...

https://www.autoblog.com/news/rare-earth-magnet-shortage-threatens-shutdown-of-u-s-car-factories

While electronics such as smartphones matured more than five years ago, cars are still at the infant stage of improvement and modernization, with self-driving and software features still greatly lacking in most models while the BEVs are slowly developing.

This is a ton of information from Toyota on their roadmap, with many exciting developments in software, self-driving, EV, and other areas. The website has many links on details of different areas of their roadmap.

You can automatically translate the captions of the YouTube videos to English under settings.

Toyota unveils new technology that will change the future of cars | Corporate | Global Newsroom | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website

Republicans canceled a waiver in the Clean Air Act for the first time in its history to kill the pending ban on gasoline cars in California.

https://www.autoblog.com/news/californias-ban-on-gas-powered-cars-is-dead

Arene debuts in Toyota’s all-new RAV4—Woven by Toyota

This is probably the biggest breakthrough by Toyota since they have developed the hybrid synergy drive. While some other companies like Tesla have also developed software-centric cars, Toyota, being conservative as it is, has the goal of eventually being the best in the world in this aspect.

Arene will also debut TSS 4.0, which is the first TSS to receive over-the-air updates (OTAs) during the life of the car.

It is possible NVDIA hardware might be used.



More on the all-new RAV4:

The all-new, all-EV (no gas-only models) RAV4 will go on sale in the fall, with several PHEV models. The PHEV models will have a 50-mile BEV range,...

I just saw a new lithium conversion kit for the old NIMH Prius cells the other day and was wondering if anyone here has heard of it before.

They’re only asking $1400 and I’m considering buying it but the lack of BMS makes me a little weary. I don’t know battery technology that well but I’m hoping someone here does.

The company is called MTG
BMW i3 Battery Replacement & Upgrade | Volkswagen E-glof/Renult Zoe/Nissan Leaf |MTG – Upgrade Your BMW i3/E-glof/Renult Zoe/Nissan Leaf Battery – More Power, Longer Range

Source: https://www.tesla.com/support/recall-cybertruck-inverter-replacement#:~:text=Inverter%20Replacement%20Recall-,Tesla%20has%20issued%20a%20voluntary%20recall%20on%20certain%20Model%20Year,MOSFET)%20in%20the%20drive%20inverter.

• Standard All-Wheel Drive with 375 hp combined system output
• Up-to 260 miles of manufacturer-estimated all-electric driving range with DC fast-charging times around 30 minutes* (10-80% charge under ideal conditions)
• Equipped with North American Charging System (NACS) port for access to thousands of DC fast charging stations, will also have the convenience of Plug & Charge capability
• Ample utility with generous rear cargo area, 8.3-inch ground clearance, Panoramic View Monitor with Multi-Terrain Monitor, and 3,500-pound towing capacity
• Well-equipped interior with standard SofTex-trimmed seating, 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen, dual wireless Qi charging, ambient lighting and more
• Premium Package adds JBL Premium Audio, ventilated front seats with memory driver’s seat, panoramic moonroof, front radiant heaters, and more

US: Toyota Announces Powerful...

• All-new, Toyota C-HR Battery Electric Vehicle with 338 combined system net hp and a manufacturer-estimated all electric driving range rating of up to 290-miles*
• Premium interior and easy access rear cargo area for comfort, convenience and utility
• DC fast-charging capability with access to thousands of Level Three charging stations nationwide for a 10-80% charge in around 30 minutes under ideal conditions
• Coupe-like SUV profile with eye-catching design and a fun-to-drive character with standard All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
• Built on Toyota’s e-TNGA platform, with chassis tuning that compliments its spirited output
• Modern interior with soft touch materials, customizable lighting, and 14-inch touchscreen
• Compact crossover utility with 60/40-fold flat seats and up-to 25.4-cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats
• Expected arrival at U.S. Toyota dealerships in 2026

US:...

• Up to 314 miles of manufacturer-estimated range (XLE, FWD Plus model), an increase of 25% over the outgoing model (previously rated at 252 miles)
• Equipped with North American Charging System (NACS) port for access to thousands of DC fast charging stations, will also have the convenience of Plug & Charge capability
• Up-to 50% more horsepower, with 338 combined system net hp on AWD models, up from 214 combined system net hp on prior AWD model
• Restyled exterior, with front-end design changes to fascia and lighting, with newly available color-matched overfenders for a sleeker look
• New instrument panel design with a larger 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen and customizable ambient lighting
• Available in XLE and Limited grades, both in a choice of Front- or All-Wheel Drive (FWD or AWD)

Toyota bZ All Electric SUV Adds Range, Charging,...

https://insideevs.com/news/758587/volvo-trucks-sales-tesla-semi/

I hope the Tesla semi isn't be coming like the Toyota fuel cell car, where they promise tens of thousands to be on the road really quickly and then it becomes a goose egg.
.

Scientists make surprising finding that all electric vehicle drivers should hear: 'Has been largely overlooked until now'

South Korean scientists decided to study the process of charge depletion in batteries. Surprising them were the effects of running your battery down to near depletion and found damage to the cathode. The damage is caused by oxygen combining to lithium, forming lithium oxide, at around 3 volts. This then causes the cell to swell when interacting with the electrolyte. This effect seems to be exacerbated in nickel enriched lithium batteries, like NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) or NCA (Nickel Cobalt Aluminum) more so than others, like LMO (Lithium Manganese Oxide) or LFP (LiFePO4 - Lithium iron phosphate).

For those who want details, like me or @bwilson4web here’s the original study:...

What is that tune? FOUND IT!
Sorcerer's Apprentice - Fantasia | Disney Video

YouTube version:


Bob Wilson

A proposal in the big bill is to start annual federal fees on cars. $200 for EVs, $100 for hybrids, and $20 on all others. The last won't start until 2031, but the rest are immediate.

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/04/29/congress/house-transportation-reconciliation-text-gas-tax-00315222

Previous thread on this topic was bloated, so started new.
Death to EV bills | PriusChat

https://www.autoblog.com/news/toyotas-chairman-shared-this-controversial-opinion-about-ev-sports-cars

Bare-bones Slate EV pickup under US$20,000 with rebates - Reviews | Driving

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a64564869/2027-slate-truck-revealed/

@Mendel Leisk Not even a touchscreen!