OK, Toyota finally starts selling BEV... sort of

Wow. "Sort of" is right. But the range from a battery not much bigger than a Prius Prime's battery is impressive. Then again, it kind of looks like a two-seater road legal electric wheelchair.

 

I would not be surprised to see these in EU markets.
I’m not sure if these would grant any ZEV credits, but if so, we may see them in California as well.

 

Is that what you found under your Christmas tree? It might fit.

 

This as a second vehicle would serve the needs of a very large percent of the many 2+ vehicle households in the U.S. as a city and/or commuter car. Great price for a new BEV.

It doesn't, however, fill the U.S. want category. Plenty of folks who have an accessible 120v outlet at home, commute within this vehicles winter range, and don't need high speed freeway power. Wants sell vehicles.

 

This is Toyota's answer to the Zap! Zebra. The 82 mile EPA estimated range is impressive, but the top speed is 60 kmh, or 37 mph. That isn't fast enough for the suburbs around Philly.

 

I remember the Honda Z from the '60s.



Came here - and there were a few others at the time - SUBARU, Daihatsu, maybe others. I knew a couple of people with them or equivalents - they loved them. My KE10B Corolla wasn't that much bigger - compared with today's huge Corollas.

The problem today is that with all the massive SUVs, TwinCab trucks etc dominating our roads, even a new one with good safety credentials, you would feel a bit vulnerable.

 

Sinclair C5 with 4 wheels and a roof lol


iPhone ?

 

Most in our suburban area are 2+ vehicle, 2-5 person households, and many have a combo of 2+ trucks or SUVs. It would be nice to see small BEVs like this show up to local stores and/or work instead with their solo commuters.

Understand those with biggest concern would be safety since they lose in a crash against the tank sized trucks/SUVs class. Best solution to that is fewer trucks/SUVs, but that's a bit pie in the sky.

 

So I exit my development onto a 55 MPG road and need to go up a 200 foot hill with folks including 18 wheelers really going 60+ just to get to the grocery store and this is supposed to be safe. I travel (or did) and I get that there are cities where it would work.

 

To be fair, while this obviously won't work for everyone, it will work for some.
It could replace our second car, if it weren't for the fact that I am considering no car as a second car.

 

Yep, single vehicle households will usually need a more robust, fully powered and ranged BEV; already made clear would work for many 2+ vehicle households (comment not directed at Zythryn but other). Anecdotal strawman need not apply.

 

I don't see how a 37mph car can work for many 2+ car households. In a city center, it could work, or some limited access communities. For most of suburbia, many surface streets will have speed limit or traffic flow that exceeds the car's limits.

 

Ah yes, didn't catch that in the spec, saw 60 - indeed it is kph, not mph. Yeah, would need >50mph max.

 

You are looking at it from the wrong perspective.

Background: My city is divided into sections by flood control channels. There are only a few bridges across those channels. The thoroughfares that cross the bridges are mostly 45 MPH and streets that don't cross them 35 or 25. Oddly, I can drive from here to the adjoining city using slower speed roads.

I looked into a 'citicar' when I worked in town and found that there was no way for me to get from home to my office without using a 45 mph stretch of road. I dimly recall that citicars are restricted to slower speed roads.

Solution: The solution is very simple. Designate one lane as 35/45 mph with the intent that it is available for citicars. That opens the whole city to the more efficient vehicles.

 

I also didn't notice the top speed limitation. A total deal breaker for me since I can't go more than about 3 blocks in any direction before hitting 45+ mph speed limits. All but a tiny fraction of my driving is over 45 mph.