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Amid rising fuel and car prices in the USA, some are longing for those banned Chinese EVs.


Just a thought, if I were to buy a new Corolla, the cheapest I found within a few hundred miles from here is just over $23,000 which would be over $300 a month including a trade-in and about that same amount for the insurance just for the wife and me, plus at least $150 per month in fuel costs. Add in saving for tires and doing normal maintenance and suddenly I'm not that far from $1,000 per month. Or I can take off about $100 per month if I get a used one.

I doubt the production car will look as good as the concept pictures, but the HEV version’s fuel economy could be better than the Prius’s due to the new super-lean-burn engine. There will also be a BEV version.





https://www.autoblog.com/news/toyota-prius-faces-a-corolla-sized-problem

Hesitant to post about this speculative engine. In effect, the induction and exhaust are upgraded with modern engine control systems. More of a ‘brass board’ prototype, I wish them well:


A three cylinder version at 50hp (35 kW) would be very attractive. Then scaled to 100 and 150hp, a nice family:

• 3 cylinder - 120 degree power pulses for smoother operation and tolerable reliability if one cylinder fails.
• Separate oil crank case - avoids burning lubricant
• Forced induction - avoids butterfly losses and potentially handles altitude changes much better
• Direct fuel injection- critical for multi-fuel operation

I like the architecture but there is a lot of work before production becomes real.

Bob Wilson

TORONTO, May 1, 2026 – Electrified vehicles led April Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) sales reaching a record of 17,704 electrified units sold in April 2026, up 38.4% year over year (YOY).

These record electrified sales represented 67.8% of overall sales, including April sales records for the Toyota bZ and Lexus RZ battery electric vehicles (BEV), as well as the first full month of sales for the newly launched Toyota C-HR BEV.

The now fully electrified new generation 2026 RAV4 saw its Canadian-assembled Hybrid version reach a best month sales ever, up 24.6% YOY.

Camry Hybrid (up 28.4% YOY), Tacoma Hybrid (record, up 5.6% YOY), Crown Signia (record, up 84.7% YOY), 4Runner Hybrid (record, up 119.1% YOY), Sienna (record, up 65.2% YOY), Lexus NX 450h+ (record, up 85.4% YOY), Lexus RX Hybrid (record, up 34.7%) and Lexus LX Hybrid (record, up 66.7% YOY) are amongst the other electrified nameplates that achieved significant April sales.

These electrified sales contributed...

I have no pleasure in reporting this news but I was able to see it at the first Munro Associates, open house. This is the death rattle somewhere:

• Detroit MBAs - at the first open house, there were three distinct groups;
  • new business engineers and managers - they were taking furious notes because they’d never heard these lessons before
  • old school Detroit - there to recall past acquaintances with Sandy but more like patting the red headed stepson on the head.
  • Amen chorus - me
• China standing room only - the exact lectures Detroit treated as amusing were attended in Asia SOLD OUT and in China, shared with everyone who stood outside. They were taking notes furiously

I know it is popular to claim China stole our patents and intellectual property. But the most important was how to unleash engineering skills and manufacturing discipline that Sandy taught and Musk occasionally exhibits.

China is ascending...

Source: Daily Automotive News

My first image

Source:


Finally a video showing that axial flux motors serpentine the magnetic field between the external magnetic rotors … offset between the magnetic field conductive material pads that are not permanent magnets. Truly brilliant design.

Bob Wilson

From Australia to Vietnam, the Iran war is fuelling demand for EVs | Economy News | Al Jazeera

Ever since the Gen II Prius, when fuel prices went up? So too - fuel efficient vehicle demands . At the time - the only choices were between Honda & Toyota hybrids. With Middle East Dynamics, hear the world is again. Only now there are hybrids, plug-in hybrids and full EVs.

Surprisingly, & even though our plug-in minivan typically gets 60 & 70mpg - the better ½ asked whether we might move back into another (our 3rd) Tesla (or some other ev?)

Anybody else considering making the full Ev jump?
.

I was worried about this. Iran did manage to hit the Shell Pearl GTL base-oil facility in Qatar, which is one of Shell’s crown jewels and has been in production since 2011–2012. GTL (gas to liquids) is a Group III synthetic base oil derived from natural gas via the Fischer–Tropsch process and is used in most synthetic motor oils today. Expect oil changes to become more expensive. It could be hard to find synthetic motor oil as well, especially those with specific OEM certifications, such as those for European cars. Most synthetic Shell motor oils (such as Pennzoil) use a GTL base oil.

Strait of Hormuz: A base-oils shortage threatens luxury auto giants

Source:

• There are "fillers" between cells that are endothermic, heat absorbing. This reduces the risk of a complete pack event.
• There are "separators" within the cells that upon heating, block ion transfer, turning off energy release by the cell.
• As for relative risks:
  • NMC/NCA - heat and fire
  • LFP - toxic gas with a lot of explosive hydrogen

I am leaning towards battery pack safety regulation that incorporates both the "filler" around the cells and "separators" within the cells. Not something that needs to be done instantly and should not specific the specific media. Rather, a performance based, benchmarked solution.

Bob Wilson

Very impressed with Lucid Gravity designs. Pricey but very nice. With adjustable suspensions for off-roading. If only they have solid states, lfp or sodum ions. Still on lithium ions.

Gravity | Lucid Motors

A trusted source:






Wrong video changed after I first viewed:


Bob Wilson

There are other flammables such as plastics that also burn.

Bob Wilson

Here I am wearing my NexPowerEnergy shirt and hat. I wanted to let you know of this impressive 12-volt battery for sale at SaltyHybrid.com. It costs $175 and allows you to control the battery management system for it with a phone app: http://www.saltyhybrid.com/collections/all-products/products/the-ultimate-12v-battery

This would be ideal for those who use their Prius to power their home during a power outage because it will give you valuable data about how your system is functioning, as well as allow you to change charge settings/thresholds.

This battery is also ideal if you live in super extreme cold weather and extreme hot weather because sodium battery chemistry is superior to standard 12v chemistry in extreme temperatures.

Another valuable feature is it has a power...

These are the winners for 2026 World Car Awards:

• BMW iX3—2026 WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR
• LUCID GRAVITY—2026 WORLD LUXURY CAR
• HYUNDAI IONIQ 6 N—2026 WORLD PERFORMANCE CAR
• BMW iX3—2026 WORLD ELECTRIC VEHICLE
• FIREFLY—2026 WORLD URBAN CAR
• MAZDA 6e / EZ-6—2026 WORLD CAR DESIGN OF THE YEAR

https://www.cars.com/articles/all-electric-bmw-ix3-crowned-2026-world-car-of-the-year-522786/

https://worldcarawards.com/

Saw this on Bogleheads today, but the mods blocked comment-.

Apparently Toyota is worried about the upheaval in the auto space, in particular competition from Chinese EVs. In response, Toyota is saying that its suppliers have to increase productivity (reduce costs) and can relax requirements to maintain spare part availability.

I would think Toyota is OK with hybrids in USA, in other words, I am looking for a motive in this, Might be they do not like US tariffs. Also I know Scotty Kilmer on YouTube thinks quality is down, maybe Toyota is saying get used to it.

'Unless Things Change, We Will Not Survive': Even Toyota Doesn't Feel Safe Right Now

If they have a "Full Self Driving" feature, I would be interested provided the rest of the specs are equal to my 2019 Model 3.

Bob Wilson

A computer controlled, two-stroke engine with integral generator could provide either emergency charging or range extension for EVs:


As my ultimately unreplaceable Tesla battery ages, it becomes more attractive to have a lightweight trailer with a 25 kW, flex-fuel, generator. Of course this assumes available and affordable fuel.

Bob Wilson

Finally, the Gen 6 RAV4 PHEV, the PHEV version of Toyota’s first take on a software-defined vehicle (SDV), will start hitting dealer lots next month, in April. It is also the first Toyota to feature TSS 4.0, which will be further upgradeable through over-the-air software updates.

It is over $3,000 cheaper than the Gen 5 RAV4 PHEV. It looks like Toyota has finally figured out how to make EV batteries that aren't astronomically expensive.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) is less expensive than before | Car and Driver