Insight?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Dec 31 2006, 10:00 AM) [snapback]368909[/snapback]</div>

I don't think so.

Because Hybrids are the bridge to EV. I think that's where Toyota is going. One thing holding them up is batteries. But the batteries will come as hybrids take more and more of the market. And in the mean time they'll have everything else in place or ready to go, the software, the motor, etc. Hybrids aren't the end. They're the means. Toyota is looking way ahead and they've got a step by step plan to get there. Hybrids are the first steps, not the end.

Toyota not only sees the wall, they see what's on the other side.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hill @ Dec 31 2006, 01:30 PM) [snapback]368972[/snapback]</div>

The EV1 was made by hand, literally. You can't really compare that to what comes off their assembly lines.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveinOlyWA @ Dec 31 2006, 10:13 AM) [snapback]368929[/snapback]</div>

Remember, with air conditioning, an Insight is about 1,900 pounds, so two 175lbs guys pushes that up to 2,250lbs. It as with any other smaller car - a given passenger or load is going take more effort. Anyone remember 20 yars ago when A/Cs and automatics really hurt the fuel economy of compact cars?

It's just subcompact physics.