Toyota to test plug-in Prius PHEVs on public roads

This is probably one way to move the PHEV forward without cannibalizing existing Prius sales. Interesting dilemma Toyota has.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(zenMachine @ Jul 19 2007, 09:41 AM) [snapback]481572[/snapback]</div>

I don't think it would be a big problem - a PHEV would be sure to cost more, so it would be like an upgrade option, kind of like getting the V6 VW Golf instead of the base 4 cylinder.

I would expect the market is already there, but they probably don't want to release it to a litigious population until it's been more thoroughly tested, and that's why they're talking about first releasing to government fleets.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(clett @ Jul 19 2007, 04:20 AM) [snapback]481470[/snapback]</div>

Lets hope Toyota takes a different route than GM after the EV1 leasing approach.

TheDeliman

--- Electric 101 class begin ---
For those that aren't aware of the approach, (and the basis for "Who killed the electric car?" movie) GM released EV1 electric vehicles and a supporting recharging infrastructure in Californina in rising demand for "alternative" fuels. Only leases were issued, no sales. EV1 was taking off amonst growing specualtion that GM was attempting to squash the program. GM aquired Hummer, and that same year, all the EV1's started coming off the streets when the leases were up. None to be sold to the public. New EV1's were being "shredded" in an attempt to get them off the market. Legal actions followed those whom did not turn in their cars.
--- Electric 101 class end ---

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nerfer @ Jul 19 2007, 10:20 AM) [snapback]481584[/snapback]</div>

I'd suspect more than a few prospective 08 Prius buyers might decide to hold off their purchase if they were expecting a PHEV to be available in 09 (or whenever). The extra cost of the PHEV may not be enough of a deterrence, all else being equal.

What they CAN do to keep up HSD sales in the meantime, of course, is release a hybrid minivan in the US!!!

 

they can send me one, i'll test it for them

GM, -4.45 EPS
TM, +8.68 EPS

my money's on Toyota

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(clett @ Jul 19 2007, 04:20 AM) [snapback]481470[/snapback]</div>

Great news, but I wonder how your average Japanese civil servant will take this. A month ago, Toyota nixes Liion for the Prius traction battery due to significant safety concerns with their batteries. The solution? Put an even bigger Li-ion battery in and have some civil servants drive the car around to test it. Not sure how I'd take that if I were in the driver's seat.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pewd @ Jul 19 2007, 09:26 AM) [snapback]481622[/snapback]</div>

What is EPS?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Fibb222 @ Jul 19 2007, 12:13 PM) [snapback]481656[/snapback]</div>

earnings per share

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pewd @ Jul 19 2007, 09:26 AM) [snapback]481622[/snapback]</div>

+1 I will be more than happy to test it for them.

 

Where do I sign up on the waiting list for the 2009-10? Make PHEV an option on the Tacoma pickup.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nerfer @ Jul 19 2007, 10:20 AM) [snapback]481584[/snapback]</div>

Exactly. And there are people who live in apartments/condos that don't have access to an outlet so there's a whole population of people where plug in would be of no use at this time.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(burritos @ Jul 19 2007, 01:38 PM) [snapback]481725[/snapback]</div>

Folks who live in apartments and condos can use portable generators to recharge their vehicles at night...
[laughing]

I'd like to think that Ford's potential deal to build plug-in infrastructure would synch up with this car, but I'm probably just living in dreamland.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Jul 19 2007, 02:51 PM) [snapback]481757[/snapback]</div>

I'd wait. Lithium batteries have known to spontaneously combust. Wait for them to get those kinks out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeWq6rWzChw

 

I live in an apartment, and when I buy it will be a condo, most likely without a plug in for cars, so I am not really interested in plug-ins myself. Well, with plug-ins you also need to consider your electricity sources. I would still be reluctant to buy one because most of the electricity here comes from fossil fuels with a 70% efficiecy loss between the coal energy and the electricity energy it produces. Then that electricity loses efficiencies as it is loaded into the batteries of the car, and then propels the car. So, it might be more efficient to directly burn the carbon in the gas engine (with hybrid technology of course!) than burn the carbon elsewhere and then to wire it through the grid. If I was confident that my electricity came from a renewable energy source, then I would be jumping up and down. Don't misunderstand, I think plug in hybrids and electric cars are important and are the future, and I am excited to see that Toyota seems to be having some success with the technology. I am just peaved about the growth of renewable electricity technology and the implementation of renewable energy power stations not being fast enough in light of the global warming crisis.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MarkMN @ Jul 19 2007, 04:12 PM) [snapback]481773[/snapback]</div>

My interest in plugins and EVs is only half-hearted right now because electricity is really expensive in the Philadelphia area. With all the generation and transmission fees, taxes, and a half a dozen other charges thrown in, electricity here is about 15 cents a kWh. With my understanding that EVs require about 300 Wh per mile, that would make driving on electricity equal to about $2.50 a gallon for me. With gasoline now sitting around $3.00 a gallon, that's not a whole lot of benefit. I'd save maybe $200 a year.

And if a new, non-plugin Prius ends up getting more MPG than my current Prius, then the benifit of running on electricity goes down even more. If I could actually expect to get 70 MPG from the new non-plugin Prius, then driving on electricity only would cost about as much as driving the 70 MPG non-plugin with $3.50 a gallon gas.

(For those wondering how I arrived at these numbers... If electricity is 15 cents a kiloWatt-hour and it a car can travel about 3 miles on a kiloWatt-hour of electricty, then 70 miles would cost 70/3 * 0.15 = $3.50 of electricty. A 70 MPG Prius could go the same distance on one gallon of gas, therefore the break even point would be $3.50 a gallon gasoline)

Now, if I was still living west of Portland Oregon, where hydroelectric dams provided me with 3 cents a kWh electricity, I'd be all excited about plugins.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marlin @ Jul 19 2007, 04:30 PM) [snapback]481779[/snapback]</div>

Hey PA,
You'd rather buy high polluting gas with over 60% imported from terrorist than use clean electric at about the same price for a highly subsidied tank of gas ?

Sound like all you care about is YOUR dollar and not the USA energy security, less pollution or any other issues. I thought Penn was where freedom started and we didn't check on our cost but the freedom of all Americans. Maybe you should reconsider a good hybrid. Even if you don't plug it in you capture all the energy from going down hill and stopping.

Please consider the big picture.