On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 08:56:22 -0400, you wrote: >Actually, I think that Prius approach - basically replacing starter with a >full-blown >electrical motor is a most feasible one. Then ethanol or biodiesel can be >used >as a fuel. >Alex
I like the Prius very much. Further, I do not pretend to be able to say what is the "best" alt-fuel vehicle. It's fine by me if someone wants to say that a biodiesel, or some other alt-fuel approach, is better than an EV. I may agree on some points. What bugs me is the non-businesslike way the auto companies are handling production of EVs and customer demand for EVs. This unbelievable crushing of good vehicles, the turning-away from demand despite the existence of waiting lists (albeit modest-sized ones), the confiscation of leased vehicles when the lease is up despite generous offers of cash by leasors who want to keep the cars, ... something is wrong with the system, in my view. So, I'm trying to discern what's wrong with the system. The "what is a good car" question is, to me, somewhat separate. But I absolutely agree, the Prius is a fine high-mileage innovative car, a good first and second effort, and now they are even adding EV-only mode to the newest ones, something that was a bit unexpected. The EV-only mode will only operate reportedly for a few meters (or hundreds of meters?) but is a start. Next you'd need grid-chargeability and a massively expanded battery pack to make any sort of real grid-chargeable hybrid. But, sure, kudos do go to Toyota for this car. And criticism goes to Toyota for their destruction of RAV4 EVs (at least we've heard they're crushing EVs or planning to from one or two people), and their blowing-off of demand for RAV4 EVs. If they get kudos for doing something right, they still get criticism for their needless blowing-off of some customers. Doesn't Toyota have some sort of saying or corporate statement about the importance of Customer Satisfaction? I believe they say that "Customer Satisfaction Is Our Highest Priority". I've spoken to a small handful of people who are *not* satisfied Toyota customers. Toyota has managed to keep this number small because only a small handful (a few hundred or thousand) have ever owned or leased a RAV4 EV, or considered it. They were only offered to the general public at about 25 dealers in maybe one state. They're often satisfied with the car, if they manage to get one, but they're not very satisfied that it's being discontinued, or that other folks, who want them, can't get them, or that they tried but couldn't get one because they sold out. In particular, if they were wait-listed, they're not too happy to hear that Toyota refuses to make more and might be crushing good ones that come off-lease from other customers, instead of re-selling or leasing them to those who are on wait-lists. The other day one or two new ones came up for sale unexpectedly in the LA area. At a little more than $30k (after adjusting downward from $42.5k or so using various incentives) they're not cheap, but these vehicles for which Toyota seems to claim there is insufficient demand to warrant further production were gone within a day or two. The dealer was able to go through his waiting list and find homes for them pretty easily. They're reportedly the last that will ever come up at the retail level, unless something changes. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for Your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark Printer at Myinks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511 http://us.click.yahoo.com/l.m7sD/LIdGAA/qnsNAA/FGYolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
