Comments on: In Praise of Toyota's Boring Hybrids

By: chinaeu

chinaeu — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 03:30:51 +0000

please find our electric car:
http://electric-car.chinaeu.de/

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:55:43 +0000

Is it true that Prius V in Europe can seat seven?

By: Timmy

Timmy — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 20:53:08 +0000

When you talk to Honda, can you find out exactly how much they plan to ramp up civic gx sales? Maybe just selling more GX’s would be easier than introducing the Fit Hybrid, since they’re already selling those natural gas cars and it’s already garnered some awards. It’d just be much easier to market, in my opinion. Home filling is also key. I’m kind of tired of Honda creating cool cars and then holding back. If they’re really for the environment, they have to go all out and that includes the marketing side.

By: NaturalGman

NaturalGman — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 20:48:22 +0000

Mr. Berman, thanks for your efforts. It seems that Honda not bringing its Fit hybrid here is akin to its policy of limiting Civic GX sales and shelving the Phill home gas filling units. Lots of politics, probably. I’m with Hybrid Cars in looking at a variety of sensible solutions, not just the ones that attract attention (like electrics). I appreciate your trying to educate the public about progress on all of these fronts. Rather than shoot for expensive, unproven technologies like hydrogen (which, at the very least, would require billions in infrastructure) and electric (which would require lithium-ion technology, which is unproven, and would also require huge infrastructure), I think the best solution is small cars powered by reliable and proven tech like clean diesel and nickel-cadmium hybrids. We have all that technology right now, it’s affordable, it requires no change in infrastructure, and therefore millions could buy it–making more of an impact on carbon emissions than a few thousand people buying Nissan Leafs, which by the way would increase emissions from coal in most places.

By: NaturalGman

NaturalGman — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 20:39:05 +0000

Thanks for your sensible take on what will really matter in reducing emissions and dependence on foreign oil. Lithium tech is all about marketing–it’s unproven and will take years to show it’s as reliable as nickel-cadmium. Moreover, it’s expensive. Better to spend less money perfecting a proven technology and producing it a mass scale–everyone can afford a Prius, and as your senior editor showed, it’ll last ten years giving the exact same mpg as new. It’d be better if all manufacturers produced a small to mid-size Prius-type vehicle that gets 50 mpg–that would cut emissions in half and wouldn’t tax our electrical grid or increase output from coal-burning plants.
Better yet, put out a combination of proven tech–nickel-cadmium hybrids, clean diesel and CNG. We have that tech, it’s here, it’s proven, it’s very cheap. It’s just a matter of the American public demanding these cheap and effective solutions. Thanks for your coverage.

By: greenscene

greenscene — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 20:31:20 +0000

Well, Motor Trend in May 2010 dismissed the allegations that the Camry had substantive issues with so-called unintended acceleration, naming the Camry the #1 family sedan. Motor Trend also test-drove recalled Priuses and could not replicate reported brake issues. Car and Driver in March 2010 said Toyota had no serious issues with its throttle and went on to say that you had a bigger chance of dying in an accident of some other cause–usually driver error–than being in an incident with stuck throttles. NHTSA even said last July nearly all of the complaints were driver error, the others being mostly undetermined.
Point is, the media furor was far out of proportion to any issues.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 09:32:06 +0000

I’m interested to know how many hybrid vehicle buyers would feel uncomfortable if the space saver spare wheel in their vehicles is replaced by puncture repair kit?

By: Brad Berman

Brad Berman — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 18:59:11 +0000

Hey Gang,
I’m scheduled to talk to Honda in next few days to learn more about its small hybrid strategy. For example, why is Fit Hybrid not currently planned for US. This becomes an interesting question after hearing that a Yaris Hybrid is in the works. The Fit Shuttle could also be a great platform, and when matched up with Prius V and Ford C-Max, we start to see a trend toward small but functional hybrids that offer great fuel efficiency at a good price, and lot of practicality.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 18:24:12 +0000

Honda Fit Shuttle (Both Regular & Hybrid) : Awesome
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/11/honda-fit-shuttle-wagon-revealed-in-leaked-brochure/

This is just like Prius v.

Good thinking, they can use the same design, grille, etc, just make it bigger and save on design cost and pass the savings to the customer.
Every company can follow the same.

Anyone knows how many units did Fit Hybrid sell in Japan. Is it above Insight.

By: Pat

Pat — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 18:47:18 +0000

Hi Anonymous, don't get me wrong that Toyota are not looking at replacing the Nickel base with the Li ion. As usual Toyota will not MASS market until the product is proven. With their competitors make so much noise about using Li ion battery, how can Toyota not to show the public its also has plan to use Li ion!
I have to say it is nice to see the competition drives the battery technology leap forward in a pace that like the TV industry.
Remember the old CRT based TV that had been around forever then suddenly, Plasma, LCD, LED...3D!