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How Tesla lost the race for affordable EVs to an unexpected rival

Toyota President Says 'Silent Majority' Not Convinced on EV-Only Future | PCMag

I just wanted to share this article over at green car reports dot com. Not necessarily suggesting I agree or disagree with his sentiments. There are over 300 comments that are challenging to read at times, so I would suggest just taking a glance at the article itself.

As a Midwesterner in the Twin Cities, I think it's clear that the infrastructure for EV is not there, yet. I would struggle as the author suggests to find super chargers and or other places to charge in more rural areas of the state on road trips, etc.
An electric car can’t fully replace a gas-powered car in my world

Toyota Australia says the hybrid version of the popular RAV4 SUV has easily outsold the petrol equivalent since its arrival in the Australian market earlier this month – a big pointer to how ready the local market is to embrace electric vehicles and hybrids.

The Australian arm of the Japanese carmaker has confirmed to The Driven that nearly two thirds of the sales of the RAV4 have been hybrids since May 8, indicating a shift in Australian preferences to vehicles with lower running costs and emissions.

Out of a total 1,380 RAV4 sales, 461 have been 2WD hybrids (33%) and 424 have been 4WD hybrids (31%)

Toyota stunned as consumers flock to hybrid version of new RAV4 SUV | The Driven...

The good news: The state of California will prohibit state agencies from purchasing vehicles solely powered by an internal combustion engine (certain public safety vehicles exempted). The bad news: It won't buy Toyotas because of its support of the Administration's announcement revoking the state's authority to set emissions and fuel economy standards that are greater than the national standards.

VISIONS OF THE EMERALD BEYOND - The biggest news out of the LA Auto Show wasn't even a car

Real-World Electric Vehicle Fueling Costs May Surprise New EV Drivers

The pdf verision of the study can be found in this link: https://www.andersoneconomicgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/EVtransition_FuelingCostStudy_10-21-21.pdf

Excerpt from a news article:
Charging an EV or Filling Up Your Tank With Gas?

• In 2020, the Department of Energy (DOE) released a study that was more comprehensive than those that had come before. Using a state-level assessment of EV charging costs, the study’s results were...

Toyota Prius V hybrid wagon ends U.S. run; RAV4 Hybrid took its sales


Well, many of us suspected this was going to happen sooner or later. I wonder what would happen if Toyota made the v a plug-in?

If you compare the EPA mpge numbers for the Toyota Prius Prime vs. the most efficient Tesla Model 3 trims, you will see that they are about the same—Prius Prime itself having 133 mpge with similar numbers for the Model 3. However, how could this be given that the Prius Prime is a much lighter car that runs on much skinnier tires? Well, it isn't. The Tesla Model 3 has a lot lower mpge than the Prius Prime, but they somehow managed to find a way to overstate their mpge values, while virtually all other manufacturers conservatively understate them. The real-world mpge of Prius Prime vs. Tesla Model 3 is probably more like 3 to 2 rather than anywhere near being equal.

The way the range and mpge values work is that they are self-reported by the manufacturers to the EPA. It is an honor system, and we know from the Volkswagen scandal that it could be exploited. Edmunds tested the actual ranges for the EVs, and they found out that virtually all underestimate, many greatly, the real-world...

Happy Earth Week!

If you look at the financial planning and long term investments Toyota has made it makes sense that they will only maximise profitability if they sustain the fossil fuel-hybrid electric transition market as long as possible.

But when it comes to basic social responsibility and a fast approaching new era of electrification Toyota is not aging well and their shareholders are starting to measure an increase in risk / cracks in Toyota's long term plan. As per this article posted today:

"Toyota is feeling some pressure to change this strategy from large funds, which are investors in the company. Jens Munch Holst, chief executive officer of Danish pension fund AkademikerPension, one of the funds backing the effort, said: “This move must not be a PR exercise but instead signal a clear end to its role in negative climate lobbying which has given it a laggard status. ...Right up until now, the company has repeatedly undermined climate action, from opposing the U.K....

Official press release from Toyota, then photos at the bottom.

• All-New Sporty Exterior Styling with Flowing, One-Motion Silhouette
• Over 50 Percent Increase in Zero Emission Driving Range from Prior Generation Model
• All New Traffic Jam Assist Feature Standard
• Legacy Prius Name to Carry on Toyota’s Commitment to Carbon Neutrality



LOS ANGELES, Calif. (November 16, 2022) – When the Prius Plug-In concept model was first
revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show back in 2009, few could have seen the important role it
would play in the future of mobility. It offered customers a versatile solution with its pure EV or
hybrid modes, impeccable MPG, and all the tech people expected from a Prius – making it a
perfect addition to the third-generation Prius lineup. Fast forward to now, and the automaker is
ushering in a new era of the Prius legacy—with the reveal of the 2023 Prius Prime at the 2022 Los
Angeles Auto Show.

Now in its tenth year of...

PLANO, TX (May 29, 2020) – The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime will break ground as the most powerful and quickest RAV4 ever, hitting dealerships this summer with a starting MSRP of $38,100. The RAV4’s first-ever plug-in model has up to 302 horsepower with an ability to do 0-60 mph in a projected 5.7 seconds, which makes it the quickest four-door model in the Toyota lineup. But, it doesn’t end there. The RAV4 Prime also has up to a manufacturer-estimated 42 miles on battery alone on a single charge, making it the highest EV range of any PHEV SUV on the market. The RAV4 Prime also has up to a manufacturer-estimated 94 combined MPGe. Even more, what sets RAV4 Prime apart is the standard Electronic On-Demand AWD.

First revealed at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show, the 2021 RAV4 Prime will be available in SE and XSE grades, both emphasizing athletic on-road performance and premium comfort and style.



SE Grade

The SE flaunts its sporty attitude with 18-in. painted and...

Tested: 2022 Toyota Prius Prime's Time Has Come and Gone

Part of Ward's Automotive, these folks in the past tried to push "clean diesels" over hybrids and plug-ins. But VW shut that down. Now these hybrid skeptics seem to have 'gotten religion' which is why this podcast / video is important:



Sorry, no transcript. It starts out slow but as they talk, you can see the cogs in their minds turning to a new paradyne. For example, the 'no car days' because of NOx finally made them realize there is a harm to not only diesel but conventional cars too. Towards the end, they also realized the importance of the Pacifica, the first North American, hybrid miniVan.

Bob Wilson

8am PDT/11am EDT
Link:


I assume it'll be the Sienna and Venza...

Thoughts?


It's possible both will be based on the HiHy's powertrain - 2.5 litre HSD setup. The question is whether a 3.5 litre HSD setup will continue. The reason is that there's still the RXh and will Toyota put a 4-cylinder in a Lexus product or will they continue with the 3.5 litre HSD to differentiate it from the HiHy?

If so, does that mean there'll be multiple versions of the Sienna and Venza? a 4 and 6 cylinder hybrid?

Shanghai, China, April 16, 2019―Toyota announces that today the company premiered its C-HR and IZOA battery electric vehicles (BEVs) as part of its activities on the opening day of Auto Shanghai 2019. The C-HR and IZOA will be the first BEVs to launch in China under the Toyota brand. Sales on the new models are slated to start from 2020.

Article Link: Toyota Premieres Toyota-brand Battery Electric Vehicles Ahead of 2020 China Launch | Toyota | Global Newsroom | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website

I'm quoting from bluesight and metrompg but in any event the republican Wisconsin legislators are once again making legislation to penalize hybrids, vehicles with start stop and plug ins.

The law started as a $150 up charge for BEVs only and every day gets changed to add more vehicles, last I saw it was reduced to $100 but is moving to become the "Prius tax" again.

An old version of the bill is here
2017 Assembly Bill 478

My sentiments are stated well below so I'm quoting but please write your letter to the editor on this issue...

This may seem counterintuitive, but "traditional" hybrid owners should raise a holy stink that they are being lumped in with plug-ins and EVs. While this appears to play in to the hands of folks that like to divide and conquer, like the WI governor and majority legislators, the only way to implement this punitive tax is to require the larger pool of traditionals to be lumped in with the...

Toyota - skeptical about all-electric cars, but amazingly optimistic about hydrogen fuel cell cars.
According to Matt Harrison - Executive Vice President, Sales, Toyota Motor Europe, the Japanese manufacturer believes that within 10 years, prices of hydrogen fuel cell cars will match hybrid car prices.

"By the third generation we fully expect fuel cell costs to be comparable with hybrids. We believe fuel cell vehicles have a huge potential,"

When we look at the current prices in the U.S. the FCVs cost roughly twice as much as regular hybrids:

• Toyota Mirai (FCV): from $58,500 ($43,500 after deducting $15,000 in fuel over three years)
• Toyota Prius (HEV): from $23,770

Toyota Believes Fuel Cell Prices Will Match Hybrids

There's a bunch of videos.
Toyota EVs At The 2019 Tokyo Motor Show: Photos/Videos

Tesla just announced the range of the model s will increase from 300 miles to a maximum of 315 miles - which just coincidentally - ends up ripping-away Toyota's alt fuel preferred hydrogen distance bragging rights . . . .
Even more Ludicrous: Elon Musk says Tesla now has the world's fastest production car - LA Times
Yea - nevermind they're dumping the 0-60mph time too, down from 2.8 seconds to 2.5 seconds. This comes from tesla's new 100kWh pack rumored & written about in PC's ev sub forum not too long ago.
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Just posted on BBC news app:-

I saw this on the BBC and thought you should see it:

Volkswagen emissions: UK and six other nations face legal action - Volkswagen emissions: UK and six other nations face legal action - BBC News