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murai fuel cell gets a video and plans for other states.

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by austingreen, Nov 17, 2014.

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  1. telmo744

    telmo744 HSD fanatic

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    Neither clean, neither very safe, but that is just my opinion according to multiple sources and regarding present condition of H2 production worldwide.
    It may be a great car, but the hydrogen economy is not ready yet. Lacks one seat and a plug-in to allow low range commuting without travelling to a pump station.
     
    #21 telmo744, Nov 18, 2014
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  2. vskid3

    vskid3 Active Member

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    Just another type of battery when you get down to it.
     
    #22 vskid3, Nov 18, 2014
  3. ursle

    ursle Gas miser

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    Prii may be ugly but that sucker is hideous
    Actually looks worse than a subaru too
    But, I'll take two
     
    #23 ursle, Nov 18, 2014
  4. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

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    I doubt I would ever forgo the convenience of having a full 'tank' every morning.
    However, I am very happy to see that Toyota is partnering with another company to create the first infrastructure on the east coast.
    Still very sad for the folks in California who are footing the bill for the hydrogen infrastructure.
     
    #24 Zythryn, Nov 18, 2014
  5. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    The devil is in the details. The announcement seems to be based on the need to bring more states so they renew the federal fuel cell subsidy and continued doe over spending for fuel cell commercialization.
     
    #25 austingreen, Nov 18, 2014
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  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what is the doe's take on fuel cells?
     
    #26 bisco, Nov 18, 2014
  7. DaneH5

    DaneH5 Member

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    Wasn't there a very similar speech done in 1941?
     
    #27 DaneH5, Nov 18, 2014
  8. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    Chu's take was they are not ready. He got flooded by lobbyiests and carb every day. Congress restored his cuts in commercialization. Moniz, the current head is being much more politically astute. He is saying they may make sense if the break throughs happen, but has cleverly cut the commercialization budget. Nice words with less cash. I doubt he believes in them, but doesn't want the lobbies ts to be able to force more money in the budget. Let's face it $8K per car isn't much of the budget when you expect at most a few thousand a year, so congress may shove it in, without too much protest from the DOE. Pelosi was the ringlleader last time, and her collegues may be sick of her, so I'm hoping they reject her attempts at getting more money diverted to automotive fuel cell commercialization. Moniz and Chu were both in favor of R&D but that is much less expensive than building hydrogen highways and subsidizing cars.
     
    #28 austingreen, Nov 18, 2014
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  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    thanks!
     
    #29 bisco, Nov 18, 2014
  10. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Toyota and Lexus are hell bent on making their cars look like garish early 2000s tuner imports cars (RICERS). They slap a very ugly grill and bumper cover on a body that does not flow with the huge angular grille openings and they somehow think it looks cool and modern. Wth is wrong with the designers? If you're going to try and make it look fast and aggressive like an Aventador then please make the body lines behind the front grill match!
     
    #30 F8L, Nov 18, 2014
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  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    agreed. the new camry and corolla grilles are horrid!:eek:
     
    #31 bisco, Nov 18, 2014
  12. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Ahh yes, of course. I was confusing CARB credits and federal plug-in credits. DOH! If only it had a plug......

    Jeff Cobb over at gm-volt has an initial, quick take driving review posted there this morning.

    High price relying on gov't incentives, big battery, 4 seats, and the weight of an SUV. Do those talking points sound familiar? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? :rolleyes: :p
     
    #32 fotomoto, Nov 18, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 18, 2014
  13. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

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    Ah, but this Volt... Um Mirai is good because Toyota made it:p

    Seriously though, it is first generation and is basically a trial run.
    At the low numbers they expect to sell, performance, passenger space and looks are of little importance.
    It is more about real world acceptability by early adopters and usability of the technology.

    Good point about the federal credits, they probably would have a pretty tough time getting extended with these being sold only in CA.
     
    #33 Zythryn, Nov 18, 2014
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  14. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    The problem with the federal credits, is all these car companies claimed they would build them by now, that is why they expire this year. Toyota, Honda, and hyundai will build these things with or without federal credits, so it just is paying them. No other manufacturers are rushing to build, and renewing the tax credit won't get bmw, mercedes, or gm to move any faster. Pelosi last time got environmentalists to help push it, but I don't think the environmental lobby likes these cars, so its all about political power, and adding more states adds to that for pelosi.

    cool details. Read the article. Here are highlights
    Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell Sedan Priced At $57,500 - Specs, Videos

     
    #34 austingreen, Nov 18, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 18, 2014
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  15. Ashlem

    Ashlem Senior Member

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    Oh, and another semi-annoying thing. They have the dash info in the center of the car again, not in front of the driver. While I'm slowly getting used to that in the prius, I would like to not have to avert my eyes too much if I want to glance at my speed.
     
    #35 Ashlem, Nov 18, 2014
  16. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    From the side, I liked the styling, then I saw a front on shot.

    Look at that, it's nearly 300 pounds heavier than the current Volt.

    How would they bash the plug if their FCV had one?
     
    #36 Trollbait, Nov 18, 2014
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  17. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    That's ugly to the core. This is what the Prius is supposed to be a bridge to? Sorry. Toyota, you've lost me.
     
    #37 hyo silver, Nov 18, 2014
  18. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    IMHO the prius is a great bridge to a flex fuel phev. It probably produces less ghg, and in the volume difference, if toyota tried to sell the beast would reudce oil consumption more.

    I think toyota and nissan have group think that people buying bevs or fcv want them to look different and they don't realize how uggly these designs are. With the gen II prius form followed function, with this I think its different to look different, and some 60 year olds think it looks good for initial adopters. Those folks need to get a focus group of likely buyers, but of course there arne't many likely fcv buyers, so toyota is only planning to make 3000 of them for the us (not a year, but total for the next 3+ years).
     
    #38 austingreen, Nov 18, 2014
  19. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    Exactly. Hydrogen is not a fuel, it's an energy storage system. And not a very efficient one.
     
    #39 hyo silver, Nov 18, 2014
  20. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    seems I read Toyota is pushing to unload these pigs on a handfull of other states, too .... maybe 6 or 7 more? Gee ... that'd mean they may end up being available in as many - or even more areas than the PiP ... yet the PiP is less costly with smaller subsidies.
    o_O

    :confused:
    .
     
    #40 hill, Nov 18, 2014
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