Featured Threads Archive
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Slightly Toyota funded coalition calls for weaker CAFE
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a coalition of 12 automakers including Toyota, is lobbying to weaken CAFE 2025 CO2 reduction targets, according to media reports. Toyota has not publicly distanced itself from the reported lobbying campaign.
U.S. Underestimates Cost of Fuel and CO2 Goals, Automakers Say - Bloomberg
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Tightening Rules in Zero-Emission
Source: Automakers Face Tightening Rules in Zero-Emission Vehicle Mandate
Under California’s ZEV rule, automakers have been able to earn partial credits from sales of hybrids (including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles) and low-emissions conventional vehicles toward their ZEV quotas. But the regulations are slated to tighten in 2018 in a way that limits the impact of those partial credits and requires more sales of actual ZEVs, or battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
So it looks like there will be a 'come to Jesus' meeting in 2018. I'm impressed with the progress in battery technology. In effect, they are becoming more practical. However, the fool-cell has yet to show a similar breakthrough until hydrogen reformulation from other hydrogen carriers shows up in the cars.
Bob Wilson -
What Drives Us Podcast - #190 Introducing The Rolls Royce Ipecac - What Drives Us
This week Russell, Paul, Mark and Patrick discuss... The first electric touring motorcycle. What has to be the ugliest concept vehicle ever unveiled, a self driving Rolls Royce. Why Nissan Leaf sales have slowed so much. Nissan confirms 200 mile range Leaf coming. Tesla talking about acquiring Solar City.
Read more about this episode on WhatDrives.Us -
Should I consider a Corolla (Auris) Hybrid instead
3 months after Prius Gen4 was released in Australia, there are still almost none in dealerships - none have appeared in my city, I think there is 1 across the other side of the next city (1 hr away), 2 more 2 hrs away.
I spoke with a salesman at a reasonably close dealership I hadn't contacted before today - he said he didn't think they'd be stocking any, they'll order them in if taxi owners want them, but he didn't think they were targeted at private buyers. Hmmm, I'm not sure if that was his opinion or the boss, but I crossed them off my list.
BUT - just this week, the Corolla Hybrid was released, and a few examples have arrived in dealerships already. It looks like it is a Gen3 dressed up in Corolla clothes. It is reasonably well equipped, but there is no autonomous cruise or lane assist, blind-spot etc like on our Prius. It appears a little smaller, and has a temporary spare tyre. It is about $7000 cheaper than Prius. It is roughly about the same price as... -
Leaf vs Prius
Source: Nissan Leaf electric vs Toyota Prius hybrid: which is lower on cost, emissions?
Sometimes, when tucking in for the evening, you can't help but wonder: did I really make the right choice? Could I have done better? Even now, could I still do better?
This is the question I ask myself, each evening, when I park my 2015 Nissan Leaf in the garage next to my wife’s 2006 Toyota Prius.
Given that both vehicles are now driven daily into Boston from the suburbs, a direct comparison seems inescapable.
. . .
As I silently drive away . . .
Bob Wilson
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Ontario makes solo HOV driving a PERMANENT perk for plug-in drivers!
Well, some good news for my fellow Ontarians, particularly those in the Toronto area...
Green licence plates
Not sure how they would regulate 'permanent'? At some point (likely far in the future) BEV/PHEVs will be far more common and they will need to repeal this. I can only imagine they will stop providing green plates and grandfather it in over time.
In any case, it is great news nonetheless.
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Toyota TS050 Hybrids At LeMans
8:00 AM EST on FS1 and 2.
Toyota Global Site | Motorsports | FIA World Endurance Championship
The race coverage just started on FS2. -
What Drives Us Podcast - #189 Big Electric Truck (At The Beach) - What Drives Us
This week the crew take on... Nikola Motors big electric truck Tesla to sell electric cars at Nordstrom department store, expanding retail footprint The Tesla Suspension story Fiat CEO calls Tesla money losing icon E-Harley in Five Years
Read more about this episode on WhatDrives.Us -
Nissan takes a different approach to fuel cells: Ethanol
So, thoughts on this? How much more feasible would this be economically compared to hydrogen stored at high pressures? Would it be greener, or would it pollute more than renewable hydrogen via electrolysis?
Nissan takes a different approach to fuel cells: ethanol
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Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles Growing
Article says CPO Certified Pre-Owned is increasingly important for dealers. I'd certainly think a certified pre-owned Prius is a good buy. I am considering for next Prius as our car taxes in VA are quite high, so a decent used car would be double-whammy savings.
At car dealers, 'certified pre-owned' is the new used -
Why the Toyota Prius is conquering the land of Genghis Khan
Came across this article today, very interesting read!
Why the Toyota Prius is conquering the land of Genghis Khan - The Globe and Mail
Essentially, they are doing a lot of testing for us, exposing the cars in extreme cold/harsh environment. Battery is the main issue under this scenario.
However, more reasons to think if you are not living in the extremes of natural environment, your Prii will probably last a lot longer. With cheaper-than-you-think battery replacement cost, more confidence vote to keep the car longer. -
What Drives Us Podcast - #188 Special Guest: Ben Rich, Long Distance Electric Motorcyclist...
This week Tony, Mark and Russell spend the entire show talking with Ben Rich. Ben rides his electric Zero Motorcycle all over North America and is just about to set out on a new voyage around the US. We discuss his techniques for long distance electric motorcycle travel and ev bikes in general. Visit Ben on Facebook. You can find Ben on Twitter, @Benswing and on Instragram, @BenSwing. We also want to shout out to Hollywood Electrics and Zero Motorcycles. Thanks to Ben and to Mark Coughlan for inviting him.
Read more about this episode on WhatDrives.Us -
Perfect is often the enemy of good in the plug-in world
Op-Ed: Perfect Is Often The Enemy Of Good In The Plug-In World
I'd have to say that I agree with Jay's article.... -
Automotive Fuel Economy on the Rebound
Source: Automotive Fuel Economy on the Rebound | TheDetroitBureau.com
With the marketshare of truck and utility vehicles fast approaching 60% and gasoline prices at their lowest level in a decade, the fuel economy of the vehicles American drive is still improving, according to a new survey by the University of Michigan.CAFE strikes again. All these schemes to tax EVs and hybrids ignores the obvious that all vehicles, including pickups and SUVs are more efficient. The days of current gas tax rates funding roads is over.
The average fuel economy or window-sticker value of new vehicles sold in the U.S. in May 2016 was 25.4 mpg—up 0.2 mpg from the value for April 2016, . . .
Bob Wilson -
May 2016 Dashboard Summary
Another excellent report from Jeff Cobb: May 2016 Dashboard
Model 16_05 16_04 16_03 16_02 1 Prius Liftback 9389 8923 8130 7169 2 Ram Pickup Diesel 4493 4382 4729 4153 3 RAV4 4185 3807 3073 2462 4 Sonata 2513 1788 1884 1588 5 Camry Hybrid 2055 1975 1746 1599 6 Model X 2000 1500 1500 500 7 Prius c 1909 1676 2607 2263 8 Volt 1901 1983 1865 1126 9 Fusion Hybrid 1716 2035 2057 1764 10 Model S 1500 1700 3000 1900 11 Fusion Energi 1453 1331 1238 932 12 C-Max Hybrid 1327 1621 1092 880 13 Prius v (lowercase v) 1215 1322 1331 1112 14 Leaf 979 787 1246 930 15 MKZ 805 613 608 585 16 CT200h 797 577 972 762 17 ES Hybrid 735 700 894 633 18 RX 400 / 450 h 719 899 886 752 19 i3* 696 814 332 248 20 Avalon Hybrid 660 715 776 590 21 Colorado Diesel 593 731 578 403 22 Optima Hybrid 570 483 436 386 23 C-Max Energi 538 607 610 490 24 X5 500 655 313 345 25 Highlander Hybrid 473 442 492 396 26 Spark 394 419 252 216 27 500e 388 372 373 195 28 Grand Cherokee Diesel 377 360 370 308 29 A3 Plug...
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