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Featured Threads Archive
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Toyota sold 8 million hybrids!
Toyota sold 8 million hybrids, hybrids represent 13-14% of Toyota USA annual sales.
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U.S. Fuel Economy Since 1923
Source: Before Threats Came Along in the '70s, U.S. Fuel Economy Since 1923 Has Progressed Slowly - HybridCars.com
. . .
Perversely, efforts to improve vehicle mpg have come largely after threats forced automakers to change, and even then, the industry has focused more on what may have been the wrong end of the vehicle spectrum, suggests new research. That is, automakers have been intent primarily on making already efficient cars more efficient, rather that doing all that’s possible to improve the worst mpg offenders, and thus saving even more fuel
These are a couple of the take-away points from a study conducted by researchers Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle of the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.
The study – “On-Road Fuel Economy of Vehicles in the United States: 1923-2013″ – examined relevant available data to determine... -
Toyota Set to Unveil All-New Prius
source: Toyota Set to Unveil All-New Prius | TheDetroitBureau.com
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The Toyota Prius hasn’t had a major update in seven years, and early reports suggest the new one will grow longer, get a little more power, improve fuel economy and possible stretch its range in all-electric mode. Some reports indicate an optional lithium-ion battery may also become available on the 2016 Prius.
Toyota has sent out invitations for journalists to attend a preview of the fourth-generation in Las Vegas on September eighth. The current model has been around since 2009, an unusually long stretch for Toyota.
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Most of the article is flogging their anti-hybrid horse, again. So not a lot of new information except, September 8th, Las Vegas, . . . ('Baby, it is time we take a Vegas trip.') Ok, so maybe a moderator or two?
Bob Wilson -
What Drives Us Podcast - #153 Picking On Evan - What Drives Us
Two minutes news links: Portland airport installs 42 EV chargers http://buff.ly/1EBdsfM Tesla industrial batteries to help reduce power costs to Escondido high schools http://insideevs.com/tesla-power-escondido-schools/ Sexy Tesla charging robot arm https://youtu.be/uMM0lRfX6YI Tesla says, “we didn’t mean ‘unlimited'” http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1099608_tesla-letter-to-rein-in-local-supercharger-use-goes-wrong Where does your energy come from visualizations http://www.vox.com/2015/7/29/9066685/coal-oil-solar-maps my 2M, University of […]
Read more about this episode on WhatDrives.Us -
Hybrid Tech Interns Wanted
Source: AD #1683 – Audi Targets Tesla, Big Data Finds Parking Spots, Tacoma’s Sales Strong – Autoline Daily
TECH INTERNS WANTED
While training for repairing and maintaining hybrid and electric vehicles has gained some steam, there’s still a need for qualified technicians in that field. And like any job, an internship is a great way to get your foot in the door. The Automotive Career Development Center, or ACDC is looking for two auto students over 18 to assist at their shop and training center. Not only does the internship provide housing and meals, but it also includes study books to keep, access to a fleet of hybrid cars and on-the-job training. The only cost is getting yourself to Massachusetts. I first learned of ACDC and founder, Craig Van Batenburg when doing research for an Autoline Garage and... -
2016 Gen 4 Prius Reveal Set for September 8th
Investigative PriusChat members had already gathered that the 4th gen 2016 Prius would be revealed in September at the Frankfurt Auto Show, but we also now know that Toyota is doing a US-based reveal on September 8th in Las Vegas, thanks to Automotive News.
I'll be on-site for the reveal and will be sure to have lots of content to share with the PriusChat community.
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Toyota to embrace online car shopping!
Include a link to the article with something in your words about the article please. News forum rules.
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2016 Nissan Leaf to offer 2 battery sizes
Nissan Dealer Leaks Info On 2016 LEAF - Two Battery Sizes To Be Offered
2016 Nissan Leaf's Two Batteries: 84 Miles Base, 110 Miles For Top Trims, Dealer Says
So basically the base S trim will still have the 24 kWh battery, while the higher SV and SL trims will have a new 30 kWh battery, with up to 110 EPA miles of range.
Price to be announced later, but I'm guessing it's roughly the same as what the trims costs now, or they'll drop the S price to make it even more enticing to people who wants an EV for a short work/town commute and don't need the longer ranges.
I also wonder if Nissan will be offering the larger pack for older models in case people want to upgrade those.
And now it's got me wondering what kind of range the Gen 2 Leaf will have. -
QOTD: Why Hasn’t Anyone Out-Gas Mileaged The Prius?
QOTD: Why Hasn’t Anyone Out-Gas Mileaged The Prius?
Fifty-one miles per gallon city. Forty-eight miles per gallon highway. Still the best numbers in the industry for nearly a decade now.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I’m referring to the Toyota Prius, which is a 5-door hatchback that looks a bit like an egg mated with a shopping cart. It’s been a decade since the Prius came out in hatchback form, and a decade since it achieved those impressive fuel economy figures: 51 miles per gallon city. 48 miles per gallon highway. And still, no one has unseated the Prius.
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What Drives Us Podcast - #152 Fiskeriffic - What Drives Us
This week Tony and Russell bravely go forth to wrestle with…
Audi A3 e tron pricing 2016 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron US Pricing Announced | CleanTechnica
Fisker makes it’s return…to the Inland Empire New competition for Tesla: Fisker to open factory in Riverside County - LA Times
While FCV owners search for an open refueling station, plug-in and EV drivers seem to like their cars Electric Car Drivers Tell Ford: We'll Never Go Back To Gasoline
BYD rising? Tesla and Nissan trumped by BYD in world EV sales | Auto Express We’re going to force you to do what you should... -
Entune changing from Bing to "Destination Search" on August 20th
Love it or hate it, most of us with 2012 and up Prius models have Toyota's Entune system, which has search powered by Bing. Until August 20th, that is. After then an update will hit Entune systems removing Bing as the search engine and replacing it with what I assume is an in-house Toyota search system, "Destination Search".
Toyota is promising enhancements like sorting results by distance (my, how 2004 of them!), and providing automated suggestions while you type on your smart phone.
Here's the email from Toyota about the change:
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Driving more, burning less
AMERICANS DRIVE MORE, USE LESS FUEL
We’re finally seeing the evidence that U.S. fuel economy regulations are working. Even though Americans are driving more, they’re using less fuel. In the first four months of 2015, a record breaking 987 billion miles were driven. That’s almost 4% more than last year, and the highest level since before the Great Recession. It’s due to a growing population, cheaper fuel and more vehicles on the road. According to Wards, there were almost 249 million vehicles on the road in 2007. By 2013 that jumped to 253 million vehicles. And yet, even though Americans are driving more vehicles and logging more miles they use eight billion gallons less of gasoline and diesel fuel— showing that the CAFE standards really are doing their job.
Source: AD #1677 – JLR to Build in Slovakia, Cyber Concerns Not Going Away, CAFE Making Impact – Autoline Daily
Bob Wilson -
Prius-friendly cross-country roads?
Does any website or authoritative source such as AAA have a usable compendium of cross-country roads that have low speed limits but minimal interruptions such as stop signs and traffic lights?
I would nominate the Natchez Trace Parkway (444 miles, 50 mph maximum speed) and the Blue Ridge Parkway (469 miles, 45 mph maximum speed limit) to be on such a list based on my own driving experience, but I am hoping other folks have already compiled a usable list of such roads.
U.S. Route 2 near the Canadian border was also a slow, pleasant way to cross parts of Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana, but I sure there are other such Prius-friendly routes.
Any suggestions? -
What Drives Us Podcast - #151 Attack of the Tesla Clones - What Drives Us
This week Danny, Russell, Patrick and Paul take on…
The dumbest possible law we could make… U.S. will finalize long-delayed ‘quiet cars’ rules
Please for the love of all that is holy, please, stop…Link bait of the decade… Google
Chinese continue their creativity explosion making more direct copies of other country’s products… Youxia Electric Tesla Clone From China: So Bad It Makes Us Laugh
We’re all driving bugs now… Volkswagen overtakes Toyota as world's biggest carmaker| Reuters
Infotainment…... -
1966 VW MicroBus Gets Solar Power
Source: Iconic Old Volkswagen Bus Gets Solar Power | CleanTechnica
![[IMG]](proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fcleantechnica.com%2Ffiles%2F2015%2F08%2Fsolar-powered-electric-1966-volkswagen-bus-owned-by-daniel-theoblad_100521020_m.jpg&hash=9e724695b63fd2983290301529db2b57)
I used to own one. Great hack!
Bob Wilson -
Hybrid Dashboard Summary: July 2015
Another excellent report:
model Jul_15 Jun_15 May_15 Apr_15 1 Prius Liftback 11203 9559 11921 8822 2 Ram Pickup Diesel 4775 5050 5647 5072 3 Prius c 3517 2756 3763 3523 4 Camry Hybrid 2756 2755 3174 2650 5 Prius v 2620 2272 3152 2462 6 Passat Diesel 2372 2489 2769 2182 7 Golf Sport Wagon Diesel 2174 1506 1419 928 8 Fusion Hybrid 2157 1691 2440 1820 9 Jetta Diesel 1999 1852 2141 1949 10 Sonata 1837 2334 2943 2481 11 Model S 1800 2800 2300 1900 12 Accord Hybrid 1481 1241 1463 1118 13 CT200h 1374 1118 1436 1170 14 Volt 1313 1225 1618 905 15 C-Max Hybrid 1225 1814 1892 1237 16 Avalon Hybrid 1175 973 1114 906 17 Leaf 1174 2074 2104 1553 18 i3 * 935 551 818 406 19 Golf diesel 903 955 1 011 821 20 ES Hybrid 891 711 911 789 21 Optima Hybrid 873 897 1 046 892 22 Fusion Energi 852 727 986 711 23 MKZ 725 700 1 005 810 24 C-Max Energi 693 667 715 ... -
What Drives Us Podcast - #145 Golfing in Dubai - What Drives Us
This week, Russell Tony and Paul take on… Consumer Reports looks at CarPlay and AndroidAuto… http://www.carscoops.com/2015/06/consumer-reports-reviews-android-auto.html Kind of like “unlimited data” cell phones, unlimited charging may, in fact, be limited… http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1098831_teslas-contradictory-messages-is-supercharging-unlimited-or-not Toyota says they’re going to make more fuel cell membranes… http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1098818_toyota-fuel-cell-megafactory-matches-tesla-gigafactory-in-impact On one hand, fixing things is good, on the other, the need to […]
Read more about this episode on WhatDrives.Us
![[IMG]](proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.kinja-img.com%2Fgawker-media%2Fimage%2Fupload%2F1395454702943481380.jpg&hash=011fcbf2b36fa576a19798067f41f256)
![[IMG]](proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.kinja-img.com%2Fgawker-media%2Fimage%2Fupload%2F1395454703033628708.jpg&hash=c93e488fce55ff8d9850728b2250f58a)
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