Hi Tom,
Yes, it sounds like Toyota is presenting the same symptoms that GM did during the EV-1 days, corporate schizophrenia. That was followed by corporate cannibalism.
Larry
Err...what?
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Hi Tom,
Yes, it sounds like Toyota is presenting the same symptoms that GM did during the EV-1 days, corporate schizophrenia. That was followed by corporate cannibalism.
Larry
Err...what?
Ironically, the vehicle manufacturers refused to properly market the very car they created. Despite the enthusiastic response to the EV-1, which was the electric car produced by General Motors, customers were only allowed to lease without an option to buy. At the end of their leases, consumers were stripped of their vehicles and possession was given back to General Motors. In Who Killed the Electric Car Peter Horton, an EV-1 driver states, “I’ve never seen a company so cannibalistic about its own product before. It’s such an odd experience”.
...After GM created their first electric vehicle division their corporate behaviour appeared to be motivated by contradictory or conflicting principles,
...
They have the same problem they had last time. If they charge what it costs they might not sell enough to fulfill the mandate. If they don't, then every car they sell loses money and each car over the quota loses money unnecessarily.
Be careful about invoking any variation on the devil argument. You know all about the tradeoffs. Don't let your enthusiasm blind you.I had visions of the typical corporate middle management resistance to change.The CEO has a Tesla epiphany - gets the gift of the Roadster - then orders the company to change direction. Of course, there will be those with a vested interest in keeping the current direction and so perhaps just make a token effort.
... an awful lot of former Prius drivers are now moving to BEVs like the Leaf, ... so Toyota might as well get in on the action. ....
Be careful about invoking any variation on the devil argument. You know all about the tradeoffs. Don't let your enthusiasm blind you.
Well, the mark 1 RAV4 EV had a range of >100 miles and that is still the case with a '99 model I drove recently. That was with a 27 kWh pack.
A 2000 CARB report put NIMH costs at $350 / kWh or $250 in bulk plus $1200 ($600 bulk) fixed pack cost.
So back then a pack could have cost $7350 or 38% premium on an equivalent gas car
....
It doesn't seem too much of a stretch to imagine that a finance model could be offered to flatten out the upfront cost. They could even take the ten year view and make a profit.
BTW, S can't really go with NiMH even at $350/kWh since the energy density is still very poor.
No - you still need the buffers. Prius uses a small portion for eg. Not sure how much the old RAV4EV used.But IIRC it makes up for it a bit by not needing the buffers for pack longevity.
Limited service life; deep discharge reduces service life
So it's all set in stone for the time being.
Tesla will also be providing electric powertrains for the all-electric Toyota RAV4, which is scheduled to come out later this year, followed by an electric Scion iQ City. The 2013 electric RAV4 will be built in Woodstock, Ontario. It is expected to have a 100 mile cruising range on a full battery charge. It was designed to accommodate the new electric powertrain, so no cargo space is sacrificed to make room for the batteries.
I wish I knew what market research is showing that 100 miles of nominal cruising range is the sweet spot. We collectively seem to think that that's too short -- not a lot too short, but light.