Toyota eRunner?
- Thread starter itr1275
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The trick with charging EVs is to get yourself a miniature thorium salt reactor for your garage or campsite. Solves the solar thing. Nuclear power is technically solar power if you think long enough about it.
Not that difficult to build, you can download plans off Telegram (the uncensored apk version).
Not that difficult to build, you can download plans off Telegram (the uncensored apk version).
TexasFunRunner
New member
Most likely they are referring to the Compact Cruiser, details at this link in the Speculation thread.
thatoneguy
New member
One day, Toyota will get halfway caught up with the rest of the industry on EVs. Some time later, an all-electric 4Runner will come out. My checkbook and I will be there once that finally happens. No rush, just get it right.
thennen
New member
Toyota and several other manufacturers are investing a lot into hydrogen vehicles. They may be on to something. Maybe EV has a short future.
thatoneguy
New member
I personally doubt it, we've been hearing people say "...but hydrogen!" during EV discussions for a decade, without any results. Hydrogen has not proven to be very viable in consumer vehicles so far, and I think that has been well-reflected in manufacturers abandoning it or not bothering with it. I think as EV battery tech keeps advancing, the already weak case for hydrogen will just get weaker and weaker. Solid state batteries are the next major advancement, and they're on the horizon by the end of the decade from multiple manufacturers. The largest machine ever built by man is the electrical grid. It's a very convenient source of energy that's all over the place, more than anything else. Significantly more convenient than adding hydrogen infrastructure. Any Joe Blow with 100 amp service is, more or less, one $800 charger away from having pretty fast vehicle charging in their home.
thennen
New member
8 Top Hydrogen Car Companies
Toyota Motors
Daimler Motor company
Hyundai Motors
Hyzon Motors
Nikola Motors
BMW
Hyperion Motors
Riversimple
These are some manufacturers currently investing billions into hydrogen fuel cell development. I'm nowhere near as smart or savvy as they are, and I don't think they're chasing pipe dreams. But time will tell. I personally think it's interesting.
thatoneguy
New member
Yeah, it's good to not have all their eggs in one basket, diversification is good. Car companies that tripled-down on ICE only do not have a terribly positive 10 year outlook at the moment, for example. Like I said, so far hydrogen R&D hasn't resulted in commercial viability--that could change if breakthroughs are made, I just wouldn't bet a cent of my portfolio on it actually happening based on current information. If hydrogen does catch on, I think it would make more sense in 80,000 lb tractor-trailers than in personal vehicles.
I think it'll be hard to entice people away from conveniently and cheaply charging at home and not having to stop outside of the home except during infrequent long trips. There's also cost to run: in my area, I could drive an EV 300 miles on ten bucks of electricity from my home; gasoline cannot touch that, and I doubt that hydrogen would be able to either.
Jetboy
New member
I don't see hydrogen being a viable fuel source. Round trip efficiency is poor. It's hard to compress and store. It's expensive to make fuel cells. The only real benefit it has is in rapid refuel and long term storage over batteries. If Toyota's press releases are correct regarding it's solid state battery tech developments, I think fuel cells are dead for all but the fringe cases.
As far as emissions savings - PHEV > BEV. The same number of battery cells saves a lot more emissions in 5 PHEVs vs 1 BEV. It is a way to use them more intensely and get more benefit from fewer battery cells. And it has a side benefit of offering a less compromised vehicle option that allows for 90% EV miles and easy long range driving. I wish Toyota would get it together on the production side and actually produce PHEV models that buyers want in significant volume. A PHEV 4Runner would be fantastic. I'd even buy a PHEV Rav4 if they were actually available anywhere at a reasonable price. The last Rav4 Prime I saw on a dealer lot was marked up to $68k. At that price - I'd buy a Model Y and a clean used GX460.
As far as emissions savings - PHEV > BEV. The same number of battery cells saves a lot more emissions in 5 PHEVs vs 1 BEV. It is a way to use them more intensely and get more benefit from fewer battery cells. And it has a side benefit of offering a less compromised vehicle option that allows for 90% EV miles and easy long range driving. I wish Toyota would get it together on the production side and actually produce PHEV models that buyers want in significant volume. A PHEV 4Runner would be fantastic. I'd even buy a PHEV Rav4 if they were actually available anywhere at a reasonable price. The last Rav4 Prime I saw on a dealer lot was marked up to $68k. At that price - I'd buy a Model Y and a clean used GX460.
branconway
Banned
Some rumour that is! It’ll be great to see
TexasFunRunner
New member
Cute 5 mile range April's Fool's joke, your three months early, you need to try harder for your first post, or are you AI spam?
thatoneguy
New member
I honestly like the idea of solar charging in an electric offroader. It's free energy; even if it's only going to net you a few or several miles in a day, why not take it? Last I checked, gasoline vehicles can't magically generate more range sitting at a remote campsite.
As far as what electricity does for torque, well, the upcoming hybrid Tacoma makes 465 lb-ft of torque at 1700RPM, more than the old 5.7L V8 did. Makes about 200 lb-ft more torque than the old 3.5L, and makes it at less than half the RPM. In a pure electric, torque everywhere all the time is awesome.
As far as what electricity does for torque, well, the upcoming hybrid Tacoma makes 465 lb-ft of torque at 1700RPM, more than the old 5.7L V8 did. Makes about 200 lb-ft more torque than the old 3.5L, and makes it at less than half the RPM. In a pure electric, torque everywhere all the time is awesome.
eddie11889
New member
I also like the idea, but until there is a massive leap in solar panel technology it would be nothing more then a gimmick for any manufactures to add solar to any EV. You would see it more today if it was even worth it for a couple miles a day.
thatoneguy
New member
The only real innovation left is getting it cheaper. We're already very close to the theoretical maximum power it can draw from the sun. A car roof sized panel is not going to start pumping out 2kW in ten years, it's not possible.
Might happen. Start/Stop gives teeny tiny little gains, and it still found its way into most vehicles.
For what it's worth, Toyota is already doing it with the Prius Prime and Fisker with the Ocean.
I saw a write up awhile back looking at the financials of the Prime solar roof (which I think is about a $800 to $1000 option). They figured it would take something like 6 or 7 years to pay for itself.
I think it's more a gimmick than anything else, but if you do plan on longer term ownership of the vehicle and live in a western climate with ample sunshine maybe it could be borderline worthwhile.
Wasn't that largely due to it being mandated in the Eurozone if I am not mistaken though?
I personally hated the stop-start system in my 2020 Land Rover, especially if you were in a hilly area. Not smooth at all and would lead to undesirable hesitation. I also think it contributed to the car ending up on a third battery by my third year of ownership.
thatoneguy
New member
I think manufacturers are motived by the 0.5mpg it can net them in the US EPA cycle. I own a 2019 Miata. It does not have stop/start, but it does in other markets like Europe.
