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Featured Threads Archive
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Test shows why you need to change oil often, if you use Toyota oil filters
Toyota oil filters are designed to a higher flow rate than other brands of oil filters. That also means that it only traps larger particles than others. That's why a more frequent oil change interval means less engine wear.
Check out this YouTube video.
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S. Korea's EV adoption rate reaches 9.3% in 2023
S. Korea's EV adoption rate reaches 9.3% in 2023
If you're curious to know how other countries are doing. -
Waymo way out
Cyber lynching.
Bob Wilson -
The steering "wheel" is disappearing..
Tesla Cybertruck;
New Toyota BZ:
The days of coolness are disappearing.
But it's also about safety. I would think that holding on to the top center is safer when trying to use the control panels on the screens. -
Can't Charge an EV at Home, at Work, or for Free? Don't Buy One
Title from the article says it all pretty much. Purchasing from mostly DC fast chargers can be a costly adventure.
Can't Charge an EV at Home, at Work, or for Free? Don't Buy One - autoevolution
"A 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid owner spent $3,941 on Supercharging in almost a year. He used the EV maker's high-power charging network for 94% of all the battery replenishing sessions. According to the brand's calculations, he could have pocketed $769 if he drove a gas-powered sedan.
That difference would have bought the EV owner around 248 gallons of gas. A BMW M5 Competition has an EPA-rated combined fuel economy of 17 mpg. That means they could have covered 4,216 miles more with the high-performance V8-powered German sedan... -
Shell Closing 7 Hydrogen Stations in California
Looks like they're having problems getting hydrogen.
Shell Is Immediately Closing All Of Its California Hydrogen Stations (msn.com) -
Toyota financials look good
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/toyota-posts-76-jump-q3-operating-profit-2024-02-06/
. . .
The Japanese firm raised its profit forecast for the year ending March to 4.9 trillion yen ($33 billion) from 4.5 trillion expected previously. That is well above an average analyst forecast of 4.6 trillion yen, according to LSEG data.
. . .
Toyota's operating profit for the third quarter ended Dec. 31 was 1.68 trillion yen, beating the average 1.3 trillion yen profit estimate in a poll of nine analysts by LSEG.
Hybrid sales soared 46%, contributing to an 11% rise in overall vehicle sales. Hybrids accounted for around a third of the total sales of more than 10 million vehicles of its Toyota and luxury Lexus brands last year.
. . .
There is more speculations in the article that others might share.
Bob Wilson -
EV vs Guardrail crash test
Good thing only EVs weight "nearly 4-ton".
Source: Crash tests indicate nation's guardrail system can't handle heavy electric vehicles | AP News
Last fall, engineers at Nebraska’s Midwest Roadside Safety Facility watched as an electric-powered pickup truck hurtled toward a guardrail installed on the facility’s testing ground on the edge of the local municipal airport. The nearly 4-ton (3.6 metric ton) 2022 Rivian R1T tore through the metal guardrail and hardly slowed until hitting a concrete barrier yards away on the other side.
. . .
“We knew it was going to be an extremely demanding test of the roadside safety system,” said Cody Stolle with the facility. “The system was not made to handle vehicles greater than 5,000 pounds.”
My 2019 Tesla Model 3 weights 3,800 lbs, less than 2 tons with me, two dogs,... -
Takata airbags part II
NPR gave a short news blurb about a Toyota recall without the technical details. I was on a three day trip and didn't have time to find out: ‘Do not drive’: Toyota recalls 50,000 older US cars over deadly airbag fears | Toyota | The Guardian
Toyota said on Monday it was urging the owners of 50,000 older US vehicles to get immediate recall repairs because an airbag inflator could explode and potentially kill motorists.
The Japanese automaker said the “do not drive” advisory covers some 2003-04 model year Corolla, 2003-04 Corolla Matrix, and 2004-05 Rav 4s with Takata airbag inflators.
. . .
We're probably not affected.
Bob Wilson -
GM announces to bring back plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)
GM—@bwilson4web’s favorite automotive OEM—just announced that they will bring back plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), changing back from their previous “all-in on battery electric vehicles” plan.
GM is bringing back hybrid vehicles to North America
GM made $10B last year despite autoworkers strike, says it will bring back plug-in hybrids to the US -
UP Super Board
The modifiable skate board idea that has been around for decades is finally coming to market. The Super Board is a self contained chassis and EV drive train that can be used for multiple models. It comes from the Chinese electric mobility company U Power Tech. The New York based Olympian Motors is using it for their Model 01, which is a very retro style cruiser.
U Power themselves is bringing a commercial van on the Super Board to market, and another company is doing a van on it also.
Model 01 itself isn't an affordable car, but this skate board idea has the possibility of bringing more models to market at a faster rate. The greater choice increases adoption.
UP Super Board "skateboard chassis" could boost the production of EVs
Olympian Model 01 brings a touch of old-timey... -
EV charging shortage in NYC (insideevs article)
Article about low availability & long waits for EV charging in NYC.
Seems like they're encouraging rideshare drivers to adopt EVs, but that growth is getting ahead of what their permitting process can handle for charger build-outs.
Oil companies and their gas stations didn't wreck the planet by selling a thing that you needed apps, timeslots and hours of daily patience to use. They built enough competing stations to make efficiency experts weep.
Granted, the petroleum industry had the advantage of installing a lot of infrastructure before there was as much bureaucracy around construction.
I take it as a reminder that we're still very, very early into a very big change.
(Link fixed) -
Why Are Hyundai's EVs So Good? And Why Are Toyota's So Bad?
Hyundai/Kia make some excellent EVs, and Toyota doesn't. It's quite the mystery...
Why Are Hyundai's EVs So Good? And Why Are Toyota's So Bad? -
Report on EV insurance
Source: EV repair costs continue to outpace those of ICE vehicles | PropertyCasualty360
Insurance claim costs to repair electric vehicles continued outpacing those of vehicles with an internal combustion engine (ICE), according to Mitchell’s second-quarter EV collision report. On average, the cost to repair EVs was $963 higher in the U.S. and $1,328 higher in Canada.
Mitchell noted the cost to repair Teslas in the U.S. is more than $1,500 higher compared with ICE vehicles. In Canada, Tesla repair costs are around $1,600 higher.
The reliance on the original manufacturer for parts and the need for more refinish hours continue to be higher for EVs compared with ICE vehicles, Mitchell reported. However, EVs tend to need fewer parts repaired.
Further, EVs tend to be designated as “non-drivable” at a lower frequency... -
ChargeDrive's campaign
Every now and then, you come across well produced, abysmally ignorant YouTube videos. Just sharing what the nonsense is likely to be ... like the old "Dust to Dust" report that claimed Hummers are better than Prius. Regardless, here is the latest from 'ChargeDrive'. From their self-description:
Disclaimer - Our channel is made for entertainment purposes only, based on news, rumors, and speculation. Anything that is said in the videos is either opinion, criticism, information, or commentary.
FYI, all of their YouTube videos start with "HUGE NEWS! <bovine fecal matter>"
As for me, neither my EV nor PHEV are for sale. Furthermore, this week bought more EV stock.
Bob Wilson -
Teslas crash more than gas-powered cars—Here’s why
Teslas crash more than gas-powered cars. Here’s why | CNN Business
This is a very nice follow-up article on the article about Hertz selling its Teslas because they have been getting into too many crashes.
Incidentally, when I test-drove the Gen 5 Prius, I found the low-speed accelerator- and brake-pedal modulation in the Toyota Hybrid System 5 BEV mode to be perfect. The car basically sits at standstill when you don't press the accelerator, and when you press the accelerator, initially the response is very slow, gentle, and smooth, as it should be. In contrast, my Gen 4 Prius Prime is not nearly that smooth, with the car picking up a lot of speed with the accelerator pedal not pressed at all and even a light touch to the pedal producing a lot of torque. I drive in the eco mode as well. I have never driven a Tesla; so, I don't know how it reacts to the pedal input.
In any case, the BEV... -
Toyota's New AI Reduces Eco Impacts By 10 Percent
Toyota's greenwashing AI 'eco-copilot' is fake, but the prank makes a real point
“Toyota” announced a new eco-conscious AI copilot at the DC Auto Show yesterday, which promises to reduce environmental impact by up to 10% – but it turns out the whole thing was a prank, and the prank makes a real point about Toyota’s tendency towards greenwashing.
The announcement involved a press event at the National Press Club, along with official-looking press release and even a whole website. The press release fooled some (including Carscoops, who then...
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