If the gas engine is so great why do you need an EV only mode?

 

What about them make you have this assumption?

Think of the gas motor as a range extender to the EV battery. No range anxiety. No worry about searching for a working charger. I’ve been dragging around the same tank of gas since early Sept.

My PHEV is NA 4 cylinder engine and I charge at home and sometimes at work. My SUV weighs 4300lbs

 

Oh I agree, it is a brilliant combo.
But as someone who is buying higher mileage used, I will be doing some DIY and the complexity of the car makes the 80% in the title more like 180% more problems when compared to a straight ICE or EV. lol

Just guessing on that.tho.


Interesting.
Makes sense to me.

I don't have the foggiest idea.
But, it's good to see you back in chat again.

It was getting too quiet around here. haha

Dammit @BayeauxLex !

Got my mind broken again today by perfect logic...

Have to reboot now. lolol

 

Short trips/commutes around town.

Gas engine for longer drives/road trips. 600 mile real world true range.

 

Completely agree. My wife's company car is a Honda Accord hybrid. It has a very short EV range, but electric motors almost always power the wheels. No traditional transmission or CVT. Engine generates power to the run the motors, except in rare highway scenarios. If it had a 75 or 100 mile EV range, it would be the perfect family sedan to for all scenarios. I didn't always believe that either. I didn't have a lot of love for the Volt at the time, but I think that design certainly has its place.

 

and does he consider his model 3 80% less reliable than an ice vehicle as CR asserts?

glad you find it funny, but PHEV appeals to those who want to 'have it all' as stated here:

the down side is when the engine kicks in you're startled by all the racket.

all cars are compromises in one way or another. a phev is an expensive way to provide short distance no gas use and long term gas use. of course as charging infrastructure and times improve, the phev will make less and less sense.

i have a friend with one (jeep) and it was amazing in ev mode, but sounds like a wheezing lawnmower when the engine kicks in.

 

Yes but it eliminated range anxiety which is a thing for a lot of people. If you arent in a tesla charging network is not very good in most places in the US. Lugging around a gas engine but its still around the same weight or less than ev so I dont understand your point.

 

Not that many people last I checked about 10% of RAV4 sales will be the Prime version. Why isn't every RAV a plug-in? And every Toyota? Best of both worlds.
Well, after the battery runs out you're driving a gas engine car. I guess there are some people terrified to run out of charge but given sales of the Model Y and 3 many people are not concerned. Lack of charging infrastructure is Toyota's fault if they believed in the Prime then why didn't they build out their own network. But that problem will go away in 2025.

 

Only think I can think of is they were hoping for outside investment for charging networks and other companies to help push things forward.

Too much to make cars and build a nations infrastructure too unless you go full EV.

A charging network for PHEV would be impossible to get interest for the massive build out for 50 mile range batteries. Lol

Now, for OPs title, if EVs have 80% more problems BUT thay are 80% more fun, is that a wash?

Ps, if they consider EVs fun, of course...

 

Can't the same be said about an EV? Most people drive less than half a model 3 range most of the time. 95% of the time you are lugging around an extra 35 KWh of battery that does nothing, this is silly.

 

Could look at it this way, fair point. I personally would never buy a short range EV (there have been quite a few).

 

That's actually a very good question. The answer is no, he considers his Model 3 to be extremely reliable. But coming from years of Toyotas (and two Honda Odysseys), he does mention that quality wise, Tesla has still some ways to go. And I agree, Tesla still lacks in Toyota/Lexus refinements, but as far as reliability, he has no concerns. He's planning to buy a second Tesla, a Model Y. He is also planning to buy another Toyota, a Sienna Hybrid to replace their aging Odyssey (he has a big family, 6 altogether) which has become a money pit, reaching above 200K.

Removing the need for a minivan from the equation, between buying another Toyota or Lexus (sedan or SUV), he would chose Tesla everytime

 

I would want a system that allows me to move the car around like the E-ray so if I just need to wash it or something I never have to start the engine. Oh and perhaps 10 miles of range for the same reason if I need something from a store, but then again I wouldn't take a real car for a short run like that it doesn't matter to me...

 

Prime is very high demand they just don’t build enough. Its faster than the regular hybrid and can get 40-50 ev miles. Like I said before if you have a tesla charging network is solid. If not its challenging.

 

Why is Toyota not building way more of a vehicle in very high demand? Something doesn't add up.