Featured Threads Archive

Nvidia is trying to improve self-driving beyond Waymo. They just unveiled their Alpamayo self-driving technology, which uses a chain-of-thought reasoning-based vision language action (VLA) model. These models can recognize unique driving situations that might not otherwise happen during a regular drive and come up with the proper way to move forward.

Lucid is the first OEM interested in adopting it, and Uber and Berkeley DeepDrive are also interested in it.

Nvidia announces humanoid robot plans, self-driving car technologies at CES 2026

They also introduced their new Vera Rubin chip.

Nvidia launches Vera Rubin, its next major AI platform, at CES 2026

Prius (Prime) PHEV shines at the pinnacle of reliability, but most other PHEVs rank rock-bottom in the reliability list. Ford Escape PHEV and many others have numerous issues, such as being bricked. One owner had her vehicle bricked for six months.

Meanwhile, gas-only HEVs shine in reliability.

See the video.

Hybrids are still the most reliable cars, CR survey shows—Consumer Reports

She just spent $4,000 to replace her battery, and now the engine is making strange noises. Problems with the head gasket?

@Mendel Leisk, is it time to upgrade to a Gen 4 or Gen 5 before it’s too late?

TikTok—Make Your Day

https://insideevs.com/news/782820/prius-battery-engine-trouble/

Toyota’s new solid-state batteries promise 40 years of power, longer EV range.

Toyota says it is on track to introduce solid-state batteries (SSB) to its vehicles by 2027-2028.

It promises a range of over 621 miles (1,000 kilometers) on a single charge. The batteries are also expected to be smaller, lighter, and cheaper to produce than existing lithium-ion packs.

Toyota’s new solid-state EV batteries promise 40 years of power

Now imagine if these 40 year batteries can also replace all the existing NiMH and Lithium batteries in the existing lineup? Imagine if we hybrid owners can swap and go EV for 20 miles on 40 year batteries

Perrone Robotics Inc. and Perrone Robotics Innovations have filed lawsuits against Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda and Nissan, alleging infringement of its patented automated vehicle and robotics technologies.

All across the globe, they have put the brakes on the EV transition, with regulatory committees now allowing a more gradual transition.

The electric-car transition unravels slowly, then all at once

The Trump energy policies have become a lose–lose situation for US automakers and green energy. Ford is not only scaling back its EV plans but also taking a $19.5-billion profit hit resulting from Trump oil-first policies.

Ford will now concentrate on hybrid vehicles and gasoline-engine extended-range electric vehicles instead of full battery electric vehicles.

Ford takes $19.5B charge in hybrid pivot, cancels F-150 Lightning EV, launches new battery storage business

I was doing some maintenance on our other car today and decided to recharge the NOCO battery booster.

I see that it had dropped to about half charge over the past year since last charge.

When it's done topping up I'll do the one from the Prius. I just figured I'd share the reminder in case anyone else has one back in the trunk somewhere.

(I realize this is not actual hybrid news, but I couldn't think of another forum on here that wasn't specific to a particular model of the Prius- apologies for the odd fit)

Reporting myself to the moderator, there was a Washington DC announcement about "new fuel standards" that directly impacts why we were ever able to buy a Prius:


At age 75, I well remember the past that led to having efficient, safe, affordable to operate cars. My memories include:

• descending into the Denver bowl of noxious, red air
• eyes burning worse than Marine tear gas hut driving in Reverside CA
• cars that stank whose exhaust was a suicide method
• cars without seat belts and coming upon accidents

I call it "generational amnesia" and that was what happened in that press conference. Well like my Dad used to say, "Only two things will make a man unhappy: Not getting what he asked for or Getting exactly what he asked for."

BTW, I caught this when I got home. I was doing some cold weather, 31-36 F (-0.5 to 2.2 C), long distance testing of my Tesla, raw data:

• 18 hours elapsed time
• 714 miles :: 714/18 = 40 mph...

I really like their approach:

• EV for drive train
• Diesel powered generator for day long operation

Similar to my BMW i3-REx, it is a powerful if somewhat short range EV with a built-in, diesel powered generator for day long operation. Best of both worlds.

Bob Wilson

Impressive Chinese car the Canadians will get:

• Lucid features
• Model Y price

More car than I would want, still nice to see luxury at an affordable price. Better cars at better prices.

Bob Wilson

https://www.autoblog.com/news/next-gen-toyotas-will-now-last-for-almost-a-decade

Saw this on Reddit thought it was interesting to share here. Not sure if the poster is a PC member. They took the engine, inverter, and drivetrain out of a JDM 2nd gen Prius and put it into a boat.

Just casually installing Gen2 drivetrain to my boat

There have been dangerous driving conditions in LA with heavy rain since Thursday, and it is very annoying with some people still speeding.

Here is a typical Tesla driver hydroplaning on the 405 freeway yesterday:

Tesla driver loses control amid heavy rain on 405 Fwy in the Sepulveda Pass—ABC7 Los Angeles

When Tesla becomes more and more mainstream, issues with bad Tesla drivers are becoming more common. They have already taken the lead in the worst-drivers list, and they will not even have a competition soon when used Teslas become cheaper and more widespread.

Tesla drivers are the worst, study shows

Everyone wants a Toyota. No one wants other cars. With the new, groundbreaking high-tech software-defined 2026 RAV4, it will get even worse.

Toyota “can barely cover the demand” for its cars—Kelley Blue Book

Bought at an auction.

Temperatures are dropping!

This weekend is a good time to check your tire pressure and top it up.

With lower temps you may be a few pounds low- maybe not enough to trip the TPMS (if any) but you can still lose fuel economy before that tire light comes on.

Toyota is resigning the Corolla with a very modern sporty look and HEV, PHEV, and BEV powertrains, to arrive circa late 2027. It looks like Toyota is going all out in the modern-car race with sporty looks, software-defined vehicles, self-driving, EV powertrains, solid-state batteries, etc.

A Waymo car ran over a beloved neighborhood cat, who was sitting in front of it by the curb and then went under it just before it suddenly started with a jerk maneuver to change to the next lane. It is sad.

I see what is wrong here:

• Bystanders seeing the cat sitting in front of the car but not alerting the cat or the car
• Waymo not programmed for cat or animal safety
• Waymo accelerating and maneuvering way too fast, faster than a typical human driver would do—while this is safe in AI-predictable situations, it is not what a skilled driver do and dangerous in unexpected situations
• Better warning sounds
• Safety upgrade involving animals needed

Waymo confirms its car killed KitKat, Mission bodega cat

https://www.autoblog.com/news/toyota-says-youve-been-misled-most-hybrids-arent-really-hybrids