Featured Threads Archive

https://electrek.co/2023/07/11/ev-laggards-toyota-stellantis-oppose-proposed-emissions-rules/

The world moves on, and some will be left behind.
Nokia, Kodak, Toyota...

PS: "As the EPA notes, the transportation sector is the largest US source of GHG emissions representing 27.2%. Within the sector, light-duty vehicles are the biggest contributor at 57.1%, thus representing 15.5% of total US GHG emissions."

How many US states tax vehicles based on how much they pollute and consume vs their MSRP?....

https://electrek.co/2023/07/11/europe-passes-two-big-laws-to-make-ev-charging-a-whole-lot-better/

Probably 5-10 years late, but better than never.

https://electrek.co/2023/07/12/sae-wants-to-certify-nacs-by-end-of-year-and-fix-plug-charge-too/

Let's get this one out of the door and move on.
What we really need is more affordable EVs, stealerships actually selling mid- and low-level trims of EV, more sensible lower trims that don't skimp on safety features like auto lights and rain sensors (Toyota! Kia! Hyundai!), trims that don't slap huge tires nobody wants to trade tens of percent of range, and, last and not least, a better, more energy dense, lighter battery technology.
Also, how about EVs with lower and more reasonable HP ratings, lighter/smaller batteries, higher efficiency and cheaper MSRPs?

Document Shows Nio ES6 With 577-Mile Range, 150-kWh Solid-State Battery

It's coming, and not from Toyota...

Not sure what to make of this, but thought it was interesting...

https://www.axios.com/2023/07/10/unsold-electric-cars-are-piling-up-on-dealer-lots

Details: The nationwide supply of EVs in stock has swelled nearly 350% this year, to more than 92,000 units.

• That's a 92-day supply — roughly three months' worth of EVs, and nearly twice the industry average.
• For comparison, dealers have a relatively low 54 days' worth of gasoline-powered vehicles in inventory as they rebound from pandemic-related supply chain interruptions.

The intrigue: Hybrid vehicles have much lower inventory levels, supporting Toyota's argument that consumers want a stepping stone to fully electric cars.

• There's a relatively tight 44-day supply of hybrids industrywide, according to Cox....

Our big unanswered questions about the switch to Tesla-style EV plugs | Ars Technica

"And the problem of interoperability is a much greater contributor to EV fast-charging frustrations than a slightly more unwieldy plug."

https://www.thedrive.com/features/toyota-is-right-we-need-more-hybrid-cars-and-fewer-evs-heres-why

If the ultimate goal is to reduce emissions, wouldn’t this be the best way to do it, given resource and supply constraints?


“It comes down to this: By using its limited battery supply on a small number of (expensive) EVs, the auto industry gets plaudits from investors and the public despite implementing an inefficient decarbonization scheme. It gets to greenwash itself with a handful of flashy products, while in fact not cutting CO2 emissions nearly as much as it could. The numbers strongly suggest that hybridizing as many new cars as possible is more effective, and to increasing degrees as battery technology evolves and supplies hopefully go up. That would allow hybrids to graduate to PHEVs, before being superseded by full EVs where appropriate.”

“So far, the government...

So, I arrive at my car this morning to discover that there's no electricity. I used the key to get in and open the rear door so someone could get in and dig down below the cargo tray to reach the battery and give me a boost.

Two questions: could I have started the car without the jump, and why did the designers at Toyota not provide a low battery warning light?

https://motorillustrated.com/sae-shapes-the-future-of-ev-charging-with-tesla-nacs-connector-standards/117465/

https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1140079_electrify-america-tesla-connectors-800v-charging

In more ways than one, it seem everybody is standardizing on NACS.

SAE is fast tracking a standard for NACS and Electrify America is adding NACS (Tesla) connectors to its charging network. Electrify America will continue to support CCS connectors as well. The NACS V4 connectors will be added to support 800V charging.

Reuters news link: EU-funded hybrid car prototype explodes in Italy, killing two people

Joby Marks Production Launch, Receives Permit to Fly First Aircraft Built on Production Line in Close Collaboration with Strategic Partner and Investor, Toyota - Toyota USA Newsroom

Toyota's Strategic Partner, Joby Aviation, was awarded a Special Airworthiness Certificate to begin testing its first production prototype. If you read the press release from Joby Aviation linked at the bottom of the article, you'll see it will be the first eVTOL aircraft to be delivered to a customer. The customer is the US Air Force as part of the Agility Prime contract. It'll begin flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base sometime this year.


Seems ironic that Toyota has pumped $400M into an electric aircraft company to produce BEA (Battery Electric Aircraft).

Toyota Falls In Brand Loyalty Rankings After Customers Defect To Tesla

"The Japanese car brand slipped into seventh place in S&P Global Mobility’s study for the first four months of the year."

Lordstown Motors files for bankruptcy, sues Foxconn

Lordstown Motors files for bankruptcy, sues Foxconn

BREAKING! Toyota Exec Sets Tesla Catch Up Date For Its Fleet

https://motorillustrated.com/telus-and-jolt-team-up-for-5000-more-ev-chargers-in-canada/116952/

Ok maybe not totally free, but TELUS (Canadian Telecommunications) and Jolt (Australian EV Charging) are teaming up to install 5,000 DC charging stations across Canada. The first 7 kWh will be free (enough for 40 to 50 km). Because they are combining EV chargers with a telecommunications company, the chargers will operate on the TELUS' network and offer public Internet access.

No timeline has been set on when all of these DC chargers appear, but the first ones will be going in later in 2023. TELUS has stated all of these chargers will be powered by renewable energy.

Interesting that they'll offer 7 kWh of free charging but it might mimic what a lot of Norwegians do. Put just enough in to get to their next destination or home if trips are not going across the country....

Like the burglar alarm sign or sticker with no burglar alarm, just a few stickers on the window or cat shield might fool the potential burglar to go elsewhere.

In the dark the potential burglar would find it hard or take the time to authentic an OEM cat under a shield.

Hi everyone the west coast dock worker's slow down / strike is starting to get resolved and ships are queuing up as they head to Los Angeles, soon to unload.

I've had the Version 2 upgrade for a couple months and it's made a significant improvement in my gas mileage, even more significant than original nexcell circuits that I've been driving in my car for 32 months now.

And if you make your purchase with my affiliate link I can offer you unlimited tech support. Also, for those who live near me I can offer you a discount on your installation: https://projectlithium.com/?ref=9qLPw



If you have any questions or concerns please post them below...

Probably should be filed under, never thought I'd see the day, article from a car magazine.
https://www.motorbiscuit.com/bmw-toyota-going-opposite-directions/

Apparently Motor Biscuit thinks so and bemoans where BMW is headed, but knows this is a business decision. They are pointing out all the positives Toyota is producing like their GR series, TRD in their trucks and SUVs, reintroduction of manuals, and the intro of power hybrids while thrumming the negatives BMW is introducing into their car lineup.

Personally Toyota Europe and Lexus Europe are getting the majority of the new car types, like the new 2024 Yaris, GR Yaris, Aygo X, 2024 C-HR, Lexus LBX, and many more including some you can still get with a manual and/or diesel powertrain. Apparently Toyota's foot dragging approach to EVs, unlike the avalanche the European car makers are driving towards, is getting noticed. Not too sure Toyota...