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Featured Threads Archive
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Toyota Won’t Make A Proper EV Because Dealers Say It Won’t Sell
Well, at least they're admitting it. And they're not entirely wrong since EV's are still just a small fraction of total vehicle sales around the world.
That said, I wonder what would've become of the Rav4 EV if they continued to improve it. Or at least offered a plug-in hybrid version.
Toyota Won't Make A Proper EV Because Dealers Say It Won't Sell
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Rav4 Prime vs Tesla?
Not sure if this thread is appropriate here; mods delete or move as necessary. Random EV musings...
Now that Toyota has released pricing and specs on its upcoming Rav4 Prime, considering a fully loaded Rav4 Prime is ~$47k in the US, with initial fed tax credits of ~$7500 bringing the price down to ~$40k, I find myself cross shopping a Tesla (which has no more fed tax credits remaining) to replace my gas guzzling Lexus LX570.
A new standard range RWD Model 3 is $38k. Long range AWD Model 3 is $47k.
And looking at Tesla website for used Teslas in Northern Cal: a used 2015 Model S at ~40k miles with AWD is ~$40k. A used 2016 Model X is ~$53k. A new LR Model Y is $53k.
Which is the more compelling long term buy? Toyota is more reliable, but only ~43 miles on electricity and still has the moving parts/maintenance of an ICE to deal with. Tesla's have 250-320 range and a super charger network, but has random build issues, and long road trips require planning around charging... -
Bad smell in the air conditioning system
Hi my Plug-n Prius develops a bad smell in spring when the warm weather comes and again in autumn. The local Toyota seevicemen have repeatedly changed the coupe air filter and used some spray in the air vents to help out, but to no avail. The first time they changed the coupe air filter it was very wet and it didn't smell too good, but later filter changes had not shown a wet filter...
I have used an Omega spray to kill the "bugs and smell" from the AC system spring and autumn myself, and it does make the car smell good for a qouple of months time.
Yesterday I went to a Auto store nearby to get some more AC cleaner. I eas told that tis was no use as there must be some fault with my car and to contact Toyota and tell them to have this sorted out... I talked to the manager today and he says that this is not normal and that he will try to help.
Maybe someone here have some experience with the AC system on their cars?
I mostly use the electric mode in the warmer spring, summer and... -
Forbes pits EV's against .... Everything?
The Tesla Model 3 Is Displacing The Toyota Prius: It's About Time
Yikes - that's the kind of press that'll REALLY ramp up the Short'ers & nay-sayers.
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Wisconsin Hybrid Tax- is it legal?
Wisconsin has doubled the registration fee on hybrids. The rational is that hybrids, because they are more efficient, don't pay as much fuel tax as other vehicles. I cannot argue with that premise, but the legislation ignores the fact that there are scores of other vehicles using the roads with similar or even greater efficiency.
Readers of this forum are fully aware of those vehicles, I'm sure; the diesels, CNG/NGV's , motorcycles, mopeds and even the now incredibly efficient ICE- only cars like the Versa and Cruze.
How is this tax- specifically on hybrids- not discriminatory? Is it legal for a state government to tax one citizen for using roads while not paying fees, but not another doing so similarly?
I know the new Wisconsin law has been discussed on this forum pretty thoroughly up to this point, but I'm hoping someone with a legal background can tell me whether this legislation would stand up in court. -
2019 RAV4 with all-wheel drive and...
gets 52mpg
.. and a range of 600 miles.
.. and can pull 3,637-pound maximum towing capacity
Could this be a typo?
"Power hits the road through a much improved all-wheel-drive system. The claimed sprint time to 62 mph is 8.1 seconds, and Toyota says it expects returns of 4.5 l/100km, or around 52.3 mpg US."
The 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Proves Efficiency Can Look Good At The Paris Motor Show | Top Speed
2019 Toyota RAV4 Chief Engineer: Gas Station Trips Every Two Weeks Are A Waste Of Time - CarBuzz -
Best answer I've seen yet from Toyota about going full EV
Best answer I've seen yet from Toyota about going full EV.
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2016 Prius Super Bowl Commercial: "The Longest Chase" Prius4
Very entertaining and well-done commercial by Toyota's @Prius Team that aired during the Super Bowl tonight. Great to finally see a Prius ad capture the positive aspects of the car while mixing humor and entertainment.
Toyota later at the conclusion of the game posted a follow-up commercial, with the police unveiling their secret weapon to stop the Prius:
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Bolt the cannibal and used hybrid/plug-in generator
Source: 1st Chevy Bolt Deliveries Have Begun In California! | CleanTechnica
Autoblog provides more: “The 3 new Bolt owners are a retiree from Fremont who’d previously driven a Chevrolet Spark EV; a software developer in Castro Valley who ditched his BMW i3; and a real estate broker from Portola Valley who turned in his Toyota Prius.”
I'm impressed ... NOT!
Source: First Chevrolet Bolts delivered in Northern California - Autoblog
Which part of bovine fecal matter applies?
Earlier this year, Kelley Blue Book analyst Karl Brauer said Chevy would move between 30,000 and 80,000 Bolts during its first full year of sales.
Bob Wilson -
Tesla exec tells it like it is
Source: Tesla Tells Detroit To Stop Fighting Electric Cars
A top Tesla exec said Friday that traditional automakers have stunted electric vehicles by building bad cars, lobbying against new environmental rules and attempting to circumvent ones already in place.
“We want other manufacturers to succeed,” said Tesla Vice President Diarmuid O’Connell at the Detroit Athletic Club. “But there is nothing in their design that is viscerally appealing.”
Part of Tesla’s long-term plan, O’Connell said, was to start with a ground-breaking vehicle but expensive Tesla Roadster, then build a more luxurious but less expensive vehicle like the Model S and Model X and then, eventually, create a vehicle like Model 3, a $35,000... -
Fall of Tesla
Unfortunately, Tesla seems to be in a free fall, and I don't mean the stock but the company itself.
Tesla loses top-safety rankings from IIHS, Consumer Reports -
Not alone in feeling that Toyota is missing the EV-boat (article)
I want an EV. And since my Prius, I'd love it to be a Toyota.
But there are none.
Today I found this article, supposedly Toyota is lobbying against EV's. Not in the US myself, so I don't particularly care about the lobbying, but I had expected Toyota to be more technology driven instead of dragging its feet. And actively sabotaging, sorry, lobbying against e.g. California's right to have stricter emission rules is something I would not have expected.
Is it really that bad? From what I read here, people with the Mirai's are left in the cold as well. (I have a dislike for H2 for practical reasons and a total lack of objective reporting in newspapers about the downsides of H2, but our government is pushing it for some reason (also some lobbying going on???)).
BTW, unlike the US (or the US portrayed in sitcoms/movies), people here don't buy new cars very often, partly because they... -
Prius v software recall
Toyota recalls 625,000 hybrid cars globally for software glitch| Reuters
Toyota Motor Corp said on Wednesday it would recall about 625,000 hybrid cars globally to fix a software glitch that could, in limited cases, shut down the hybrid system while the car is being driven.
Models affected are certain Prius v minivans, called Prius alpha and Prius+ in some markets, among other models, produced between May 2010 and November 2014, the automaker said.
About 340,000 vehicles of the total are in Japan, 160,000 in Europe, and 120,000 in North America, it said, adding there had been no reports of crashes or injuries.
Same software glitch that 3 gen had updated recently? -
Consumer Reports' Highest-Rated Car-Ever
A Plugin ?!? Wait . . . That's insane. In fact, that's Ludicrous
Tesla Model S P85D Breaks the Consumer Reports Ratings System
A surprise? CR car testers are often slanted to the gear head mentality - so it was unusual to see they rated it above their scale of a perfect 100.
Mod note: Changed link to go directly to Consumer Reports website.
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