Featured Threads Archive

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

Patrick Connor, Paul Guzyk and Russell Frost spend the entire talking to Intel’s Senior Product Manager, Transportation Solutions, Ryan Tabrah. It’s an incredible show with lots of great talk about the future of cars from infotainment systems to autonomous driving. Here’s Ryan’s page at Intel. You can follow Ryan on Twitter, @red_stapler.

Read more about this episode on WhatDrives.Us

This week Russell works the topics below with Patrick Connor, Paul Guzyk and Tony Schaefer… Subaru sport hybrid comes to Japan http://www.topspeed.com/cars/subaru/2016-subaru-impreza-sport-hybrid-ar170047.html Bugatti Chiron will be a hybrid http://blog.caranddriver.com/electric-bug-bugatti-chiron-hypercar-to-get-hybrid-powertrain/ Chevy Bolt http://boingboing.net/2015/06/29/chevys-200-mile-electric-car.html 4th Gen Prius debut http://priuschat.com/threads/4th-generation-coming-2015.117745/page-246#post-2202352 Terrible reporting, stupid people or both? https://thenewswheel.com/indianapolis-orders-employees-not-to-charge-hybrid-vehicles-at-home/ The LATimes says the Prius is DeadBeforeArrival, more or less http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-new-prius-20150626-story.html […]

Read more about this episode on WhatDrives.Us

This week Evan, Tony, Patrick and Russell discuss… Next gen PiP to have 30-35 miles of EV range, according to an anonymous source http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1099222_next-toyota-prius-plug-in-hybrid-to-have-30-to-35-miles-of-range-source Toyota starts taking Mirai orders, unicorns everywhere cower in fear http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mirai-hydrogen-car-arrive-october-809923 Craig Scott, national alternative fuel vehicle manager at Toyota, “With batteries there is a fundamental science problem that we don’t […]

Read more about this episode on WhatDrives.Us

This week Danny, Russell, Evan and Paul talk nothing but Volt with Mark Coughlan of the Waterloo Region Voltec Group. From Mark regarding the Volt: Largest Chevy Volt Community (3rd Party) GM-Volt.com Live Chevy Volt Statistics Site VoltStats.net Twitter: @WRVoltec From Evan, if you want a discount on your Tesla vehicle from a Tesla owner: […]

Read more about this episode on WhatDrives.Us

SHOCKING ACTUAL COST OF A TESLA:

Driving a Tesla Model S 265 miles burns 10 gallons of OIl at the power plant. This means a Tesla Model S gets about 26.5 miles per gallon of oil. This is worse than a Volkswagen Jetta Diesel which gets 32 mpg highway, 27 mpg combined miles. And definitely this is much worse than a Prius V.

This data is from an interesting article from a person who has managed to completely live only on DC Power:

"How I Gave Up Alternating Current" How I Gave Up Alternating Current | Mostly Harmless

QUOTE:

WITHOUT SUSTAINABLE POWER PRODUCTION ELECTRIC CARS ARE NOT THAT GREAT.

Charging an 85kWh Tesla would still burn the equivalent of 10 gallons of oil at the power plant.

With a range of 265 miles the Tesla Model S really uses 26.5 mpg, barely over the average american fuel economy of 23.6 mpg.

CALCULATIONS:

ENERGY TO CHARGE A TESLA TO DRIVE 265 MILES = 85kWh = 306MJ

Grid loss is 75%...

2016 Chevrolet Volt Rated At 53 Miles Electric Range, 106 MPGe, 42 MPG On Gas

Unlike the gen I volt that fell short on the epa test, the gen II seems to hit its numbers well - increasing range 39% and range 13.5% from the gen I with a price drop to $34,000 before tax credits and other incentives. It won't sell like the gen II prius, as it has a lot more competition, and is a 2+2, but it shows how fast phev technology is improving.

Wow lots of late breaking news. I will try to add details later:

1. Washington State at the last minute saved its EV tax credit and extended it to Plug-Ins. Only cars less than $35k but Plug-In Prius is excluded for insufficient battery capacity (need 30 miles). So we can possibly see why Toyota needs a bona fide 30 miles next PiP2.

2. Delaware has added ~$2000 EV/Plug_in incentive looks like PiP might be included! Not sure if PiP gets the full amount. The DE FAQ section specifically mentions PiP as an example, unless PiP is unobtainium it appears PiP is included. DE is CARB-Lite (not 150k for batts).

3. California has modified the CVRP rebate program slightly for less payout to higher income folks

4. Bad news: Idaho had added a new Hybrid tax of $75/yr and EV fee of $150/yr ...more on this later...I can only quote what Va. Gov Terry McAuliffe said when asked by a reporter: "Do you really think a hybrid fee discourages sales (in Va.)?" Va....

Airbus E-Fan all electric plane crosses english channel.

GE Claims Fuel Cell Breakthrough, Starts Pilot Production - IEEE Spectrum

Toyota: Negative On Batteries Because It Has More Experience Than Any Other Maker

from a website that's new to me:



source: Untitled

Next Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid To Have 30 To 35 Miles Of Range: Source

So, what are your thoughts if true? Speculations? Such as will it have the same mpg in hybrid mode as the Gen 4 prius, does it sacrifice the spare tire again?

Sure, it's not as much as the Gen 2 Chevy Volt's estimated 50 miles of EV range. But it's three times as much as the Gen 1 PiP, and being a Toyota, should have...

Here you go, read all about it.

Diesel-Powered Fuel Cell Produces Clean Electricity - IEEE Spectrum

The 911 is going to join the bmw i8 and 918 as a phev.
Porsche 911 Plug-In Hybrid Coming In 2018 In Form Of AWD Carrera 4? | Inside EVs

The best curret ferrari a hybrid
LaFerrari: the most extreme performance ever achieved by a Ferrari.

The next tesla roadster will go plaid
How Does Tesla’s 'Ludicrous Mode' Stack Up Against Bugatti, Lamborghini? - Bloomberg Business

Ok, you're done, move along.

Blink Implements Post-Charging Occupancy Fee At Charging Stations

Toyota recalls 625,000 hybrid cars globally for software glitch| Reuters

Toyota Motor Corp said on Wednesday it would recall about 625,000 hybrid cars globally to fix a software glitch that could, in limited cases, shut down the hybrid system while the car is being driven.
Models affected are certain Prius v minivans, called Prius alpha and Prius+ in some markets, among other models, produced between May 2010 and November 2014, the automaker said.
About 340,000 vehicles of the total are in Japan, 160,000 in Europe, and 120,000 in North America, it said, adding there had been no reports of crashes or injuries.

Same software glitch that 3 gen had updated recently?

With the recent gas tax & refinery issues in the state of Cali, along with higher prices - $4/gallon is becoming way more common, and some stations (this one - in the Brentwood area) are even higher than that;



If you saw lowerer prices as a chance to unload for a land barge ... hope that's still working for you.
.

According to an official announcement today by New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, a dealership group on Long Island, NY (which includes the Toyota dealer where I get my car serviced, but not the one where I bought it), has just settled with his office for $310,000 to resolve false advertising claims.
A.G. Schneiderman Announces Settlement With Atlantic Auto Group Over Misleading Advertising And Sales Practices Across 22 Dealerships On Long Island | www.ag.ny.gov

Some extracts:

Sounds like some of the 0% loans for hybrid car purchase are from Toyota corporate green bonds. I think I like the idea.

Recent Green Bonds: Toyota Hybrids, SunRun, Efficient Homes and Data Centers | Alternative Energy Stocks