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It's official Toyota is full speed fuel cells for compliance after 2014

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by austingreen, May 13, 2014.

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  1. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    #321 GrumpyCabbie, Jul 3, 2014
  2. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    GC - you are correct. The reason FC cars are capable of now being sold for only ~ $70,000 (still @ a huge loss most likely) is because the stack is made as small as possible (reducing total platinum) , while still being able to propel the car forward with some degree of power. Wonder whose FC car will be the 1st to have the stack stolen for the metal. Now . . . the question is - if you stole enough stacks to equal $70k - which would you buy with your I'll gotten gain . . . would you buy the $70k FC car? ...... or, two nicely equipped Prius. ;)
    .
     
    #322 hill, Jul 3, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2014
  3. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Well over your side of the pond it'll be some sort of 'monster' truck, and over here it'll be erm, probably the same. Who cares about fuel consumption when you have a source of illicit gains so readily available :unsure:
     
    #323 GrumpyCabbie, Jul 3, 2014
  4. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    lol. I think its going to be very rare that a thief even sees one of these cars. I doubt they will even bother to learn how to steal the stack. It should only have 3 or 4 times more precious metal than a catalytic coverter, and those are easy to find.

    I doubt toyota loses a ton on every car. My guess is $70K is close to their variable cost less value of japanese government credits. It doesn't pay for their fixed costs, but if they sell 1 or sell 1000 (size of first run) they probably lose the same amount of money. The only company that has disclosed their fuel cell fixed cost is GM, and probably only because they had to go through bankrupcy and allow the creditors to see how much they wasted. GM spent $2.5 B so on fuel cell R&D. Toyota has spent at least a billion. They will drop the price to whatever they need to, since they have already sunk so much in. Say they lose $30K/vehicle and sell 1000, that is only $30M a tiny portion compared to R&D so far. Those california credits 26 right now are worth more than japanese credits too;) In 2018 the bonus credits end, so they are rushing the car to get those credits, which is likely why it can't meet high voltage safety. They have known how to comply since the gen I prius.
     
    #324 austingreen, Jul 3, 2014
  5. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    Well we'll all have to ask the guy when he buys it.
     
    #325 El Dobro, Jul 3, 2014
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  6. dipper

    dipper Senior Member

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    Would the potential thief even know it is a FC car? They probably think it is a Corolla.
     
    #326 dipper, Jul 3, 2014
  7. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    They know which cars have the biggest cats, so I bet it wouldn't take long to work out which car is the one full of platinum.
     
    #327 GrumpyCabbie, Jul 3, 2014
  8. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    The cat thieves around here go for stealing them from trucks more, because they're easier to get to.
     
    #328 El Dobro, Jul 3, 2014
  9. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Same here, but if you knew a car contained significantly more, you'd spend more time and effort on how to nick it. If one FCV contained the same amount of platinum as 10, 20 or 30 catalytic converters, you could invest more time on how to get hold of that car. Why spend hours under trucks with your circular saw, when you can just car jack a FCV or tow one car away at 2am?

    A little more effort for a significant increase in gain.
     
    #329 GrumpyCabbie, Jul 4, 2014
  10. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    Easy. the guy that buys the FCV won't be parking on the street or a commuter lot around here. ;)
     
    #330 El Dobro, Jul 4, 2014
  11. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    #331 El Dobro, Jul 5, 2014
  12. 70AARCUDA

    70AARCUDA Active Member

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    DOE-speak reminds me TOO MUCH of IRS-speak (and Gooberment-speak in general).
     
    #332 70AARCUDA, Jul 5, 2014
  13. psusi

    psusi Junior Member

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    When they figure out fuel cells that run on methanol or ethanol or a similar fuel that has a viable energy density and does not require a dangerous, ridiculously high pressure bomb... err, gas tank, then fcv will have a future. This hydrogen nonsense is a boondoggle that people need to stop getting suckered into.
     
    #333 psusi, Jul 24, 2014
    kensiko, 70AARCUDA, bwilson4web and 1 other person like this.
  14. 70AARCUDA

    70AARCUDA Active Member

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    Agreed...1,000% which is *why* FC will always wear a 'Hindenberg Albatross' around it's neck...until it is PROVEN thoroughly safe enough to overcome it's EXPLOSIVE past.
     
    #334 70AARCUDA, Jul 24, 2014
  15. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    #335 El Dobro, Sep 15, 2014
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  16. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    the website is loaded with ad-clicks ad-ware trash....
     
    #336 mrbigh, Sep 15, 2014
  17. 70AARCUDA

    70AARCUDA Active Member

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    #337 70AARCUDA, Sep 15, 2014
  18. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    I think I might go back to the Range Rover before investing in this ....
    it's as though Toyota is mocking Toyota owners' environmental loyalty. "We'll call it carbon neutral even tho it runs on NG!! Ah hahaha... Stupid customers!"
    .
     
    #338 hill, Sep 15, 2014
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2014
  19. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Sounds like they'll be perfectly happy in Texas. <rim-shot>

    Bob Wilson
     
    #339 bwilson4web, Sep 16, 2014
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  20. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    I fear that that might actually be a future Toyota model. I hope it's not the new Prius! It does have that X shape on the front end that seems to be appearing on the European Toyota lineup;

    upload_2014-9-16_8-55-22.jpeg [​IMG] [​IMG]

    Hmmm :unsure:
     
    #340 GrumpyCabbie, Sep 16, 2014
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