Plug-in Prius + Smart Grid powered home = Cost Effectiveness?
Plug-in Prius + Smart Grid technology = Cost-effectiveness?
Plugging into cheaper home utility costs
I’ve read about Toyota’s smart grid technology in the past, and like other smart grid applications, it’s very impressive and intriguing. Unfortunately, it’s the upfront cost of plug-in vehicles that is most problematic, not the after-sale energy costs. Ultimately, a Nissan Versa and a lifetime of gasoline is still cheaper than a Nissan Leaf and free electricity for life, even after a $7500 tax credit.
Nonetheless, the possibility that a combination of a plug-in Prius and smart grid technology can reduce utility costs by 75 percent is a very compelling number. Read more…
Categories: Charging, MIsc., Plug-in Vehicles, Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid, electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars Tags: smart charging, toyota, Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid
Toyota forms non-Chinese rare earth supply partnership, task force
Toyota moving beyond Chinese dyprosium
Toyota diversifies battery supply chains
While the Chinese continue to claim that a rare earth metal ban has not been imposed against Japan, Toyota is taking no chances.
Toyota has set up a new rare earth metal task force, as well as a new supply partnership with Australian Lynas Corp. Read more…
Categories: Hybrid Cars, MIsc., Plug-in Vehicles, electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars Tags: rare earths, toyota
Toyota Yaris-sized hybrid being built in France
Too small for America, or just what's needed?
Would a smaller than Prius Toyota hybrid work in America?
Toyota is building a new Yaris-sized hybrid in France, according to InsideLine, but few new details have been provided, nor have any plans to bring this new hybrid to the US been announced.
Would a Yaris-sized hybrid be a good fit for the US?
Categories: Hybrid Cars Tags: Hybrid Cars, toyota
Toyota hybrid sales sink in August
Camry hybrid just can't compete
Camry sales, but not the hybrid, lead way
Sales of Toyota hybrid cars dropped from 17,504 hybrids in July to 15,444 hybrids in August, as the Toyota Prius dropped from 14,102 sales in July, to 11,799 sales in August.
Despite some of the best lease deals ever on the Toyota Prius, hybrid sales continue to remain unimpressive.
Categories: Buying Hybrids, Hybrid Cars, MIsc., Toyota Prius Tags: Hybrid Cars, toyota, Toyota Prius
Hybrid vehicles: Must US automakers compete?
DOA: Chevy Malibu hybrid
Can US automakers compete?
So, Toyota is going to sell 1 million hybrid cars per year within the next few years, but by 2015 at the latest. Obviously, 1 million units of any vehicle per year is a pretty big sale’s number – a number that has to catch the attention of any major automaker.
Will the Big 3 respond to that big hybrid number? Read more…
Categories: Hybrid Cars, Plug-in Vehicles, electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars Tags: electric cars, Hybrid Cars, plug-in hybrids, toyota
Toyota preps for big increase in hybrid sales
The key to 1 million hybrids per year
Cheaper hybrids soon?
Since 1997 Toyota has sold more than 2.68 million hybrid vehicles. However, by early this decade, Toyota expects cumulative hybrid sales to top 5 million hybrid cars as the automaker moves towards selling 1 million hybrids per year by at least 2015.
Just big talk? Read more…
Categories: Buying Hybrids, Hybrid Cars, MIsc., Toyota Auris hybrid, Toyota Camry hybrid, Toyota Highlander hybrid, Toyota Prius, Toyota Prius Alpha Tags: Hybrid Cars, toyota, Toyota Prius
Competition versus protectionism: Destroying Toyota to save GM
Getting too cozy?
Is the White House “too cozy” with GM?
As a Toyota hybrid owner, I was naturally very concerned when the Toyota recall scandal erupted. Yet, quite quickly, I began to have serious doubts about the veracity of the claims being made.
Something – actually a lot of things - just didn’t feel right.
For instance, if Toyota had some major glitch in their vehicles for many years, why wasn’t the data more supportive of this great danger, a danger that prompted the Secretary of Transportation to tell the public that he wouldn’t let his family drive in a Toyota? Read more…
Toyota hybrid patent suit over
Import block potential over
No stop for Toyota hybrids now.
The Paice LLC patent lawsuit against Toyota hybrid cars is now over.
Paice and Toyota agreed that they have shared parts, but that Toyota developed its parts independently from Paice, and all lawsuits have been dismissed. Consequently, any potential import block is now officially over.
Categories: Hybrid Cars, Toyota Auris hybrid, Toyota Camry hybrid, Toyota Highlander hybrid, Toyota Prius Tags: Hybrid Cars, toyota
Intended acceleration: Toyota hybrids were always safe?
A real danger or just a distraction?
Did the government assume too much?
“The Department of Transportation has analyzed a sampling of dozens of black boxes in Toyota vehicles involved in accidents blamed on unintended acceleration, finding the throttles were open and the brakes were not engaged,” the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
Consequently, it seems – at least thus far – that driver error has been the root of at least much of the unintended acceleration scandal that has plagued Toyota for many months now. Ironically, the findings are similar to the government’s conclusions in 1989’s Audi 5000 study. Read more…
Categories: Hybrid Cars, MIsc., Recalls, Toyota Camry hybrid, Toyota Highlander hybrid, Toyota Prius, safety Tags: Hybrid Cars, toyota
What can Toyota learn from Tesla?
But is this mostly just PR?
More about PR than EV technology?
So, Toyota has taken a small stake in Tesla so that the two can work together to build electric cars at the NUMMI plant in California. Yet, what is the significance of this $50 million investment?
Is this really about technology, or more about Toyota trying to clean up its image? Read more…
Categories: Plug-in Vehicles, electric cars Tags: electric cars, tesla, toyota
