Much talk of best "MPGe" floating around now days. Most recently, the Honda Fit EV has been throwing around its 118MPGe number. I'd forgotten though, that just a few months ago I'd heard of another entry: Cheapest cars to fuel - Scion iQ EV (1) - CNNMoney It'd seem that Toyota is the champ (vis a vis Scion). There I.Q. EV boasts 121 MPGe. Now, for the down side: . Despite the insurmountably small odds of anyone ever being able to see one of the 90 I.Q.'s . . . I was heading into Costco yesterday. Lo and behold ... (thought to self ... better take picture, you'll never see another) there's one now! Ninty cars?! I duno ... does that even count as a carb compliant vehicle - if you can't even get one? Anyway ... enjoy the Scion I.Q. EV pics I managed to snag! In case you're wondering who/what ZevNet is, it's a quasi/private group working out of UCI that grabs state money to (primarily research hydrogen) buy hydrogen and EV's for their own private group to use. I've seen Gen1 rav4-ev's at the local malls .... asked the drivers about their ZevNet stickered vehicles, and the drivers don't know who they are ... only that UCI lets them use the EV's for their own personal use. Their web sight (filled with dead links) claims several companies participate, however after calling a couple, they'd never heard of ZevNet ... and they're not taking any new company memberships (yes, something smells rotten). Our business tried to become a member. They have sole/exclusive use of all chargers at the local "PUBLIC" Irvine CA train station ... another sore subject for another day. .
Did Toyota "cut" their EV program? Toyota Rav4 EV 2013 | Electric Crossover SUV I believe it was rescheduled...
If rescheduled means, we'll just pay Tesla to make us a car to meet Ca ZEV requirements, then sure. Perhaps they were just embarrassed of the eQ after seeing what Tesla did with the Rav4 EV. Toyota Scales Back Electric Vehicle Plans | MIT Technology Review There also might have been push back from dealers not wanting to sell BEVs. Toyota Drops Electric Car (eQ) Sales Plans | PriusChat Whatever the actual reason, Toyota cut back on their in house BEVs.
They correctly IMHO assessed that there was no market for the IQ EV with a 50 mile range without losing more money on each one than the rav4 bev project. It may be a champ in the wiener league, but with a 50 mile range and small interior volume, it is likely to need to be supplemented with another gasoline car more often than the 115mpge 2013 leaf. That makes it a loser unless it is much much cleaper than a leaf, which it was unlikely to be.
Was Toyota using NiMH in it? I don't disagree that pulling the plug on the eQ was a good move on Toyota's part. Between this and their FCV announcements, it just feels like they are completely abandoning the BEV field. 50 mile range puts it at the bottom of the pack. I think 80 mile will shake out to be the minimum acceptable range of BEV once you factor in 80% charge for pack life and a buffer for HVAC use and unsuspected errands.
IMO the regular iQ was a loser considering its size-to-mpg-to-price ratio. So it doesn't surprise me that the eQ with only a 50-mile range (I'm assuming would be in the mid-high $20k price range) is a loser as well.
Guide to alternative fuels Last updated: June 2013 http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/guide_to_alternative_fuels/index.htm
I think your web page link requires membership / log in because it goes to a somewhat generic page when one clicks on it. What were you trying to show .
