mmarshall

That depends on how many perks (if any) the mall-owner or buisness-owner is willing to give to his customers as an incentive for shopping there.

An even better idea, though, IMO, is an Extended-range, Plug-in Hybrid (Chevrolet Volt, Toyota Prius Plug-in, Ford Energi plug-in models, etc...). That way, you have pure-electric range most of the time if you aren't going very far, you use very little if any gasoline (though even with a full-charge on the battery the gas engine has to start and warm up a certain minimal number of times jot keep from deteriorating), and you are guarded against a power failure and not being able to recharge if a storm or something else knocks out the local power-grid.

Toys4RJill

The chances of offering free electricity is not likely going to happen. Some places offer it now because so few people own an EV. Electricity cost will skyrocket if EVs become more popular. We already have peak rates etc etc. I am not sure but I have seen some comparisons that show that the cost to run an EV is roughly the same as that of a hybrid Toyota. The fuel industry will back Toyota and the big automakers for hydrogen before they back electric vehicle makers.

As for the extended plug in. I would argue that you don't even need it to be hybrid. And in a plug-in to your Buick Verano or my Corolla and give it 30 miles per day range. Once it runs out of charge you start using the gas engine. You got the best of both worlds.

The big automakers and the fuel industry WANT to make money. Driving around for free on energy via battery charging, gas, or hydrogen will not be free.

Sulu

Being able to charge an EV at home is likely to become easier and easier. The province of Quebec, Canada is contemplating a change to its home building codes that would require the outfitting of a 240V charging station in each new home built. But Quebec does have an advantage -- it has abundant and cheap hydroelectricity.

(Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2016/04/22/q...ation-mandate/)

Electricity may be expensive but it still costs much, much less to run a car on electricity than on gasoline -- one study says running an EV costs only one-third the cost of running on gasoline (source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/06/...st-comparison/).

The problem with a plug-in hybrid (or extended-range electric vehicle), as it is with a true electric vehicle, is that it requires a battery of great volume and weight (with current-technology batteries) that takes up great passenger or cargo space.

That being said, I would welcome -- with greater efficiency in battery packaging -- a plug-in hybrid ES (or even the CT).

This is not a new idea; it is known as a "through-the-road" hybrid, where a parallel EV drivetrain is added to an internal combustion engine-driven car (available in Europe on the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4). The concept seems simple, but the control electronics (to turn on the ICE only when necessary) are likely not that simple and it probably would not cost much more to effectively combine the 2 drivetrains to make it a true hybrid.

The advantage of such a system is simplicity (in concept if not execution) and available AWD. But I can see some disadvantages as well. If you merely add a standalone EV drivetrain to a car such as the Toyota Corolla, you have, in effect, two different cars, going from silent, clean running on electricity to running on noisy, dirty internal combustion engine; and you may go from running RWD (on electricity) to FWD (on the ICE), which may be quite a driving dynamics change. By combining the 2 drivetrains into a true hybrid drivetrain, you even out and minimise the dynamic differences, and you make the car more efficient by making some ICE power available to recharge the battery, even while driving the car (which is what all true hybrid cars do these days), rather than wasting that fossil fuel-power.

chromedome

There seems to be a sweet spot for weight, cost and performance for hybrids. There's no point using a heavy and expensive battery unless you go full EV, and there's no point lugging around a complex and heavy ICE drivetrain unless you plan on using it most of the time. Hybrids with sub-2 kWh battery packs and full EVs like the Leaf and Model S fit in that sweet spot, whereas most plugins don't. Plugin SUVs are pointless because the EV range isn't much and ICE-only mileage is dismal.

Vladi

EV or HFCV I don't care, I want both of them to succeed and have their own market share much like Gas and Diesel today, there is no need to be only one. But as long as we are done with the turd we call ICE I'm happy, sooner the better.

I still believe this is the future we should head to. Charging while you are still driving.

Carmaker1

As much as I have removed myself from commenting so often, I felt I had to address this.

You probably cannot answer this directly due to NDA concerns, but I only reasonably assume your source was referring to a mistaken belief the car was planned for the 2017 model year.

I have since dumped that assumption for the past 11 months, in following Japanese media sources, Lexus Europe sources (official and personal), and Automotive News. Every other source I have since dismissed, until they corrected their information.

I correctly predicted 5 months early that the 5LS would be shown in concept form at the Tokyo Motor Show. Thus the LF-FC, which many still fail to get the name right or mistakenly assume it does not preview the LS, due to the "FC" suffix.

It stands for "Lexus Future Flagship Car" and "Lexus Future Fuel Cell".

I was right in the end last year, despite so many media sources wrongly claiming otherwise that it was certainly going to be a production LS debut, set for launch this year. All despite the primary fact, that the LC would debut before it, introducing the new modular platform.

It has continously fallen on deaf ears, my very statements that the new model will arrive for the 2018 model year. If your source is claiming it is due by late 2017-early 2018, that is understandable, but nothing new or shocking.

If they are claiming this car is due in late 2018 or 2019, not only is that gobsmackingly inexcusable, is beyond disgraceful and indicative of Toyota foolishly resting on their laurels.

The very product that made Lexus worth a damn for a decade, has been terribly neglected to the point its competitors outshine it in many areas outside of reliability.

Let's not kid ourselves, even if Toyota puts all of their best efforts in the 200B programme, at the end of the day Daimler AG is not standing still and the S-Class can easily one-up them. The next S-Class reaches concept approval within the next 12 months.

In 2016, the 4LS is not where MB was in 1989 with the W126, that affords the car to remain enitrely unchanged for 6-7 years on a 12-13 year old chassis.

Vladi

I agree with the post above.

even if Toyota puts up their absolute A game for next LS and its tech features MB is on such a role that it can remedy Toyota's effort real quick. Just like they one upped BMW 7 series with E-class

Toys4RJill

Lexus could remedy that, they coikd start by offering a V12.

peteharvey

Mercedes is moving in leaps & bounds with C & E Classes lately, and they have an electric vehicle slated for release in 2018.

Lexus is so slow, with no electric vehicle in sight, and their hydrogen fuel cells may be barking up the wrong tree, because I'm personally more interested in 0-60 in 3.0, than in HFCV's 450 mile (700 km) range.

I might have to switch back to Benz, but their reliability haunts me.

Carmaker1

LMAO! That is so cruel and you know it, but still somewhat true of course!

As far as MB is concerned, they are only finishing up the facelift, but already have 2.5 years work done with the next S-Class.

I pointed out that fact, as many defenders of these delays are always quick to point out how "it's going to be worth it". With many folks, Lexus just cannot win, especially with outdated power trains and products in some areas.

Until the LC, Lexus was becoming known solely for entry level luxury FWD-based products in the ES and RX, which shared components and common platform with mass market Toyota products.

Basically no halo nor flagship models to boast of, once the LFA went out of production. A car that many people do not even know exists.

One cannot even hope it will be second best, if Audi ends up beating them to market and Infiniti decides to wake up for once. Over engineering a product with no sensible development timetable is not conducive to ROI, a lesson Jaguar also has yet to learn.

The next S-Class will arrive between mid-2020 and Q1 2021. If the 5LS arrives in late 2018-2019, it will be obliterated shortly after and be used as an excellent study piece by MB engineers (as well BMW) for fine-tuning their redesigns.

Carmaker1

Toyota is replacing 1GZ-FE engine with possibly a 5.0 litre UR V8 variant, upon Century redesign next year. I highly doubt at this point they're investing in 12 cylinders anymore, as by now a V12 LS would have been seriously discussed and not the lame duck flagship LS600hL unchanged since 2007.

I am hoping this LS FCV is not a repeat of that V8 hybrid with "V12 power", which was quickly outgunned by the N74-powered F02 760Li (LSh had same output as E65 760 w/N73 V12).

Carmaker1

Well, Toyota has their targets set on fuel cells and hybrids, so that isn't so surprising. I don't see them bothering electric vehicles until that is said and done for. I really wouldn't expect any dedicated EV from them, until/unless the Mirai and LS FCV are proven as failures.

My real problem with them is that they do not have a range-topping RWD-BASED crossover nor a truly up-to-date flagship saloon. Just reskinned aging products and a yet to come LC, which is still 10-11 months out.

TangoRed

Just wanted to say I got to see the next LS. The exterior didn't make the same transition as the LC (concept > production) but the interior continues the pace set forth by the LC. No further details.

chromedome

What a tease

I hope they keep the coupe silhouette for the exterior because it would make a huge splash in the market. A Lexus that looks like an Aston 4-door would be great.

yardie876

What a damn tease.