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Wheels.14
The Ethics of Driving: From SUVs vs Hybrids, to Energy Policy	Topic Home Topics Forum Home Forums Home Search Settings Help Exit

{Wheels.14.54}: James Files {riverrat} Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:26:12 EDT (13 lines)

<The biggest drawback is that you find yourself unwilling to really
push it (and often holding up traffic if you’re not careful), because
you very quickly become obsessed with seeing just how little fuel you
can use. And that’s easy because the Prius constantly lets you know.>

My Nissan Altima Hybrid doesn't have all of the feedback options that
the Prius has, making it less fascinating, but it does have a readout
that can be reset to give you current mileage and average speed.  My
wife has observed that I drive a lot slower now to optimize fuel
efficiency.  The algorithm that it uses is not a pure average in that
it is weighted for the latest reading.  (If I have driven 100 miles at
38 MPG and am able to coast through a school zone on battery power, it
may jump to 42 mpg, "rewarding" current behavior.)

{Wheels.14.55}: Kathe Nichols {kathe} Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:30:11 EDT (4 lines)

Laughing because this has happened to my husband since he's been
driving a big rig.  Fuel economy is an obsession now because it
affects his paycheck!  He's a much less scary driver in our personal
vehicle now, if frustratingly slow sometimes...

{Wheels.14.56}: Doug White {dwhite} Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:52:06 EDT (2 lines)

It would be great fun to install those fuel economy readout widgets in,
say, a top fuel dragster.

{Wheels.14.57}: Jack Van Gossen {lowjack} Sun, 27 Sep 2009 02:21:18 EDT (2 lines)

What do they burn, like 15 gallons in a 1000-foot pass now? So you'd
have a dash reading like .0125mpg. :)

{Wheels.14.58}: Jil {rabbit} Sun, 27 Sep 2009 08:42:52 EDT (2 lines)

You could get a mechanical readout, and use the dial for a fan to
cool the driver.

{Wheels.14.59}: Jil {rabbit} Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:02:01 EST (2 lines)

I'm getting emails already:
http://www.wheels.ca/Specials/article/783190

{Wheels.14.60}: James Files {riverrat} Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:13:06 EST (3 lines)

Consider this as an email from me.

EXCELLENT article.

{Wheels.14.61}: Jil {rabbit} Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:00:59 EST (1 line)

Thank you!

{Wheels.14.62}: Jil {rabbit} Sat, 10 Apr 2010 17:00:47 EDT (4 lines)

My colleague's take on tax credits for alternative vehicles. I wish
I'd written it; it's brilliant.
"http://jilmcintosh.typepad.com/jil/2010/04/all-thats-wrong-with-tax-
credits-on-electrics-.html"

{Wheels.14.63}: Jil {rabbit} Thu, 20 May 2010 20:36:40 EDT (32 lines)

Just hit the wires:

Tesla Motors and Toyota Motor Corporation Intend to Work Jointly on
EV Development, TMC to Invest in Tesla

May 20, 2010 - Palo Alto, California, U.S.A. — Tesla Motors, Inc.
(Tesla) and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) today announced that they
intend to cooperate on the development of electric vehicles, parts,
and production system and engineering support.

The two companies intend to form a team of specialists to further
those efforts. TMC has agreed to purchase $50 million of Tesla’s
common stock issued in a private placement to close immediately
subsequent to the closing of Tesla’s currently planned initial
public offering.

“I sensed the great potential of Tesla’s technology and was
impressed by its dedication to monozukuri (Toyota’s approach to
manufacturing),” said TMC President Akio Toyoda. “Through this
partnership, by working together with a venture business such as
Tesla, Toyota would like to learn from the challenging spirit, quick
decision-making, and flexibility that Tesla has. Decades ago, Toyota
was also born as a venture business.  By partnering with Tesla, my
hope is that all Toyota employees will recall that ‘venture business
spirit,’ and take on the challenges of the future.”

“Toyota is a company founded on innovation, quality, and commitment
to sustainable mobility. It is an honor and a powerful endorsement
of our technology that Toyota would choose to invest in and partner
with Tesla,” said Tesla CEO and cofounder Elon Musk. “We look
forward to learning and benefiting from Toyota’s legendary
engineering, manufacturing, and production expertise.”

{Wheels.14.64}: Joseph Kang {jsk} Thu, 20 May 2010 21:05:08 EDT (1 line)

Whoa.

{Wheels.14.65}: Doug White {dwhite} Fri, 21 May 2010 05:22:01 EDT (2 lines)

Will Tesla keep the Lotus-based design, or switch to some Toyota
model(s)?

{Wheels.14.66}: Jil {rabbit} Fri, 21 May 2010 07:32:58 EDT (1 line)

I'm guessing Toyota's going to take the lion's share of this.

{Wheels.14.67}: Joseph Kang {jsk} Fri, 21 May 2010 09:45:56 EDT (1 line)

Tesla will be switching to Camry and Solara bodies. LOL.

{Wheels.14.68}: Doug White {dwhite} Fri, 21 May 2010 17:30:33 EDT (1 line)

No way!  For real?

{Wheels.14.69}: Joseph Kang {jsk} Fri, 21 May 2010 18:06:15 EDT (1 line)

I'm just kidding.

{Wheels.14.70}: Youno {tom53} Fri, 21 May 2010 22:28:46 EDT (3 lines)

Since Lotus sells about as many cars in a year as Toyota makes in a
day, it seems Toyotas designers can do the job for a market
appealing vehicle.

{Wheels.14.71}: Doug White {dwhite} Fri, 21 May 2010 22:34:05 EDT (1 line)

Name one Toyota even half as cool as the Elise/Exige.

{Wheels.14.72}: Youno {tom53} Fri, 21 May 2010 23:54:48 EDT (5 lines)

and you would buy an Elise/Exige?  We usually compare apples and
apples. If you are over 5'6' and mature, you will have fun getting
in and out of a Lotus and in winter snow/slush try and keep your
trouser legs somewhat dry and/or unsoiled and forget about wearing a
topcoat.

{Wheels.14.73}: Jil {rabbit} Sat, 22 May 2010 07:22:53 EDT (1 line)

I've never driven one, but I think Lotus cars are ugly.

{Wheels.14.74}: Jack Van Gossen {lowjack} Sat, 22 May 2010 14:45:45 EDT (3 lines)

With the obvious exception of the late Esprit, of course. If I had
money to play with (hahahahaaaaa), an Esprit would be one car I'd add
to a collection of several I'd love to get my hands on.

{Wheels.14.75}: Doug White {dwhite} Sat, 22 May 2010 17:38:56 EDT (3 lines)

I am 5-11, and I would buy a Lotus before a Toyota.  What does that
prove?  Nothing.  I am also 40 years old and live in Hawaii (slush?  as
if).

{Wheels.14.76}: Doug White {tom53} Sat, 22 May 2010 18:10:11 EDT (4 lines)

IF you can afford a Lotus right? or a Lexus? Where would you get to
really drive either car in Hawaii for that matter? If we are merely
dreaming of cars, then I vote for the Bentley Coupe (which I cannot
buy if I wanted).

{Wheels.14.77}: Doug White {dwhite} Sun, 23 May 2010 09:28:33 EDT (4 lines)

Where I could "really drive" it doesn't really enter into the equation,
since the same roads would be available in Hawaii no matter which
vehicle I bought.  (and no fair throwing Lexus into the mix, even though
it really doesn't change my preference for Lotus)

{Wheels.14.78}: Jil {rabbit} Tue, 24 May 2011 08:30:48 EDT (5 lines)

I did some digging on vehicle environmental fees in Canada.
Surprising where the money goes:

"http://jilmcintosh.typepad.com/jil/2011/05/when-you-pay-vehicle-
environmental-fees-where-do-they-go.html"

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