Comments on: Toyota Speeds Up Plug-In Prius, Chevy Counter-Punches

By: VergieStillson

VergieStillson — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:02:59 +0000

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By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:18:53 +0000

OMNIMOEISH: you hit the nail on the head, it’s about time! THANK YOU.

By: omnimoeish

omnimoeish — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:47:12 +0000

Add to your list the fact that Chevron bought the battery technology GM used in the EV1. Gee, look what they’ve done with it. There are also a plethora of gas saving technological improvements that the oil companies now own the patents on too including the fish carburator which came out back in the 70′s. Pretty much the only way we have of saving fuel is by keeping our tires pumped up to manufacturer specs and driving carefully.

By: Bill Howland

Bill Howland — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 05:16:23 +0000

I don't blame Big Oil Per Se, but they occassionally do things behind the scenes that are troubling:

1). Chevron's egging on Clinton to attack Somalia.
2). Exxon's suing of the placement of a 'small' refinery in Texas by a very small competitor.
3). Secretive meetings between VP RC, British Petroleum and Chevron.
4). Constant federal subsidies ( aka Corporate Welfare ) to the Oil, Gas, and Nuclear industries.

I'll agree that Big Oil should be left alone, but they shouldn't do things to hamper legal competition, nor steal $ from my wallet. They should make their lucrative investments out of money they themselves earn.

By: steved28

steved28 — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:16:24 +0000

Waltz, the alternative at this point in time is to use less. And the vast majority of US citizens can use less. I bought a hybrid, switched my water heating source to a 99% efficient electric on demand unit, purchased a second pellet stove, installed a unit which allows inductive loads to use 25% less amperage, put a close line in the back yard, and removed most of my parasitic loads in the house. I use less than half the fossil fuels I did 2 years ago. If everyone did this, we would not import barrel one.

It's not just about cars, it's about our wasteful, spoiled lifestyle. I never said we could stop the flow of oil now, or that I am not reliant upon it, but I make every effort to use as little as possible until the solutions are in place to use none at all. There's that route, or yours. (bitch and moan about it)

By: Marion Tamse

Marion Tamse — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:28:18 +0000

that is why I am going solar. The price of solar PV has gone down to become feasible, to free me from the uncertainties of electric rates.

Anyway, for the sake of simple computation of capacity:
If ALL commuter cars are switched to electric, and the people will only charge at night, the current grid can support up to 80% of the converted cars. That is from a study conducted both by NREL and DOE.

But in reality, cars will not be switched over to electric instantly, and so there will be slowly ramping up of capacity, but rest assured, that at the rate of conversion, it won't be achieved even in 20 years. So we have no capacity to worry about as currently we can support 80% of all commuting cars going electric.

Now, the grid-tied solar PV would be a perfect match, heavenly at that. If you install solar PV or even the various rest areas along the freeway will have solar farms, and all business roofs have solar PV, there wouldn't be any need to build a single electric generating power plant. Like the electric cars, solar PV is declining in prices and the ramping up of production will match that of electric cars. And most of all, the solar PV can produce power during peak demands on site where needed, so you reduce the investment on infrastructure of grid lines. We also have thermal solar plants that are now competing in cost as low as coal plants. Some Solar thermal plants uses molten salt technology to provide power even at night.

As everyone cannot be persuaded to go about switching to electric cars, likewise not everyone can be persuaded to go solar.

By: Shines

Shines — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:51:03 +0000

Marion,
I have to react when you say:
We need cars that can be run on pure electric mode at freeway speeds of 55mph to 75 mph.
We do? We need them? I thought we needed better public transportation?
Why do we need all electric cars? So we can become dependent on electricity? I'm playing the devil's advocate here, but what if the electric grid can't handle the extra need for energy from all the electric vehicles, so they raise rates so much that people can't afford to light their homes and keep their food fresh in their fridges. Then is everyone going to complain about how the electric companies are in bed with politicians and electric vehicle manufacturers?
I think the Volt is a great concept and becomes a reliable option for American drivers. Will it make the Prius an obsolete golf cart? I seriously doubt it.
What we need and what we would like to see are not the same thing.
After all, maybe you could find an appartment within walking (or bicycle riding) distance of your workplace then you could use your legs (which are in their prime right?) to get to work, and you wouldn't need a car at all.

By: Marion Tamse

Marion Tamse — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:35:24 +0000

The new Toyota Prius would still be a GOLF CART when using pure electric mode. We need cars that can be run on pure electric mode at freeway speeds of 55mph to 75 mph. That way, we can have an option of not buying any gasoline. Part of our daily commute, even if just 10 miles one way, is we have to use the freeway. The new Prius design would still use gasoline when you are driving at freeway speed. This design would still tie us up forever to buying oil and funding the people who would love to kill us.

Is Toyota planning a vehicle that can run on normal freeway speeds (55-75 mph) in pure electric mode? If it can't be done, then that is not the car that I would be interested. But I hope Toyota will make it happen one of these days, it is just disappointing that the new Prius is not capable.

Many of us in our prime working age will be using the freeway to reach our workplaces, even for using short distances. It is true that you can use the Prius in pure electric mode if you are an elderly group driving residential streets in your retirement, aka, Neigborhood Electric Car or Golf cart for short and the new Prius design is just one of them.

By: Dave Black

Dave Black — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:08:28 +0000

Prius needs competition for the sake of the consumer but the biggest thing that needs to change is the false perception of need people have for certain vehicles. For example, when you compare Prius in price, depreciation, fuel mileage vs a Corolla, simple logic tells you the Corolla is a better choice, but the "smug factor" as pointed out by a South Park episode, is alive and well and will sell Prius. The next gen Corolla and Camry will be more fuel efficient which will blur the lines, muddy the waters further.
I see it everyday, selling Toyotas, people come here looking for fuel economy and the best built cars in the world, which I truly believe Toyotas are but their mindset is the same when they leave as when they came in. Most people buy cars that are way more capable than they really need and then they get upside down financially in them. I see it especially bad in domestic brands and Kia, Suzuki, the cars do not hold any value, so they come in here wanting to dump their "hemi" and cant believe that its worth 1/2 of what they owe on it, it is the American dream gone bad. What is called for is lifestyle change, we cannot solve a problem at the same level of consciousness that created it.
For example, in my neighborhood everyone owns more than one vehicle per driver, its a status symbol that will not go away. My family has one pickup even though we are spread over 5 households, the truck is always available as a backup vehicle or job, chore vehicle, not as a daily driver. We also have one Motorhome for vacations and transporting a large group that we all use. The same model could be used for neighborhoods when it comes to vehicles, internet access (community wifi), community TV system, and other things, again mindset, lifestyle adjustments.
Want to change the world, change your thinking.

By: Waltz

Waltz — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 03:13:19 +0000

"My car is probably destroying the planet more slowly than your car." Maybe w/ an astrick that says self-righteous under the saying. Doesn't matter much what one Prius does, but collectively if a majority around the world switch to lower CO2 producing vehicles Yes.

"It's also good to have the energy companies trying to help supply --OUR-- demand and trying to find alternatives, too." I feel like giving someone a huge after that statement.
I would say its good to have oil companies make U.S history in record profits while needing subsides to stay afloat convincing people w/ wishy washy commercials about half truths on caring for the environment, people in developing countries, and smoke-n-mirror/ drop n the bucket alternatives.

RKRB read ALL the posts again: As for Hal he didn't cite the statement, he just brought it up in his post. Tim Walden deserves credit for the citation.
I'm waiting for steve28 to tell me about about the "Alternatives" most Americans have to oil products for their cars. Plugin hybrids & EVs must be abundant where Steve lives.