real world EVs review

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
If that's the reason, I'm OK with that. As long as no one is thinking this is a practical idea.
 

El Dobro

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Feb 21, 2006
Location
NJ
TDI
2017 Bolt EV Premier, 2023 Bolt EUV Premier
I thought it would just post the YouTube link, but it didn’t. Someone put a diesel generator in a Tesla. Actually went through quite a bit of a process of fab and tech for, more or less, something to do. Makes me wonder who finances something like that.
Oh, ok. Sounds like something Rich Rebuilds would do. He stuck a V-8 in a Tesla.
 

tikal

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2001
Location
Southeast Texas
TDI
2004 Passat Wagon (chainless + 5 MT + GDE tune)
Toyota unveils its secret and surprises the world: New combustion engines, but zero emissions


"Toyota has presented a new generation of engines: Combustion could be saved this way

Many automobile industries are now focusing on research on the vehicles that run on the different kinds of fuel, and Toyota has been equally active in this area. The choice of hydrogen combustion engines is yet another step in this direction. These are the engines that replace traditional gasoline with hydrogen, addressing the drawbacks of cutting emissions and changing transport’s current tendency.

Hydrogen combustion engines that Toyota employs provide great performance while at the same time utilizing efficiency in engine features. As mentioned in the latest information in relation to every one of these engines, it is understood that the output can go up to 400 horsepower, which equals the capacities of many piston Atkinson cycle gasoline engines.

Also, the engines are designed to reach a thermal efficiency of up to 45%, which is equal to the best diesel engines. Therefore, hydrogen combustion engines are understandably a more compelling technological formula for Toyota in a vast number of vehicle applications, powered by the carmaker’s muscle and precision.
"
 

turbobrick240

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 18, 2014
Location
maine
TDI
2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke
Hydrogen sounds great until you crunch the numbers. People aren't going to like paying the equivalent of $10/gal for a fuel with non existent infrastructure.
 

jmodge

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jun 18, 2015
Location
Greenville, MI the winter water wonderland
TDI
More than I need, less than I want
Hydrogen sounds great until you crunch the numbers. People aren't going to like paying the equivalent of $10/gal for a fuel with non existent infrastructure.
Sounds a lot like what’s going on with EV’s at the moment. Though there is some establishment of the product, it’s far from accepted as viable to the majority of people. Reality of it doesn’t appear to be coming anywhere close to meeting the mandates of the idea. For example, you’re obviously a strong proponent of the concept, but have you really felt strongly enough in your opinion to invest resources into the field or product? Maybe you have, but I’ve seen nothing that confirms it. Just makes me wonder why you push so hard to have your opinion heard, or maybe accepted on the subject.
 

jmodge

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jun 18, 2015
Location
Greenville, MI the winter water wonderland
TDI
More than I need, less than I want
Online conversations don’t always reveal intent. It probably will never matter if I understand or not, but I wonder where the roots of your passion originate. I have a thought on it, but it would come across as critical, so I would rather hear the reality of it from you where it comes from. Why are you so intent on sharing your philosophy on the future of this subject?
 

jmodge

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jun 18, 2015
Location
Greenville, MI the winter water wonderland
TDI
More than I need, less than I want
Oh, ok. Sounds like something Rich Rebuilds would do. He stuck a V-8 in a Tesla.
I didn't follow up on it or pay very close attention, but something on there appeared to be of some use in certain situations. I think he had, again I didn't pay serious attention, but ha appeared to install a bluetooth dash. The dash, along with self installed sensors, gave him all the data he deemed relative. Something people performing swaps may find interesting to their projects.
 

turbobrick240

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 18, 2014
Location
maine
TDI
2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke
Sounds a lot like what’s going on with EV’s at the moment. Though there is some establishment of the product, it’s far from accepted as viable to the majority of people. Reality of it doesn’t appear to be coming anywhere close to meeting the mandates of the idea. For example, you’re obviously a strong proponent of the concept, but have you really felt strongly enough in your opinion to invest resources into the field or product? Maybe you have, but I’ve seen nothing that confirms it. Just makes me wonder why you push so hard to have your opinion heard, or maybe accepted on the subject.
Not really. There has been a well established electric power grid for nearly a century. I bet most of your neighbors have access to electricity right at home. Not likely the case with hydrogen. Of course the power grid will need expansion and optimisations as the energy economy shifts away from fossil fuels. I've done my part with a solar installation that has already paid for itself and will generate profits for the next 20 years. I haven't bought an EV yet, but I have cut back on the miles I drive annually pretty significantly. I no longer see racking up 30k miles a year as some weird badge of honor.
 

jmodge

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jun 18, 2015
Location
Greenville, MI the winter water wonderland
TDI
More than I need, less than I want
Not really. There has been a well established electric power grid for nearly a century. I bet most of your neighbors have access to electricity right at home. Not likely the case with hydrogen. Of course the power grid will need expansion and optimisations as the energy economy shifts away from fossil fuels. I've done my part with a solar installation that has already paid for itself and will generate profits for the next 20 years. I haven't bought an EV yet, but I have cut back on the miles I drive annually pretty significantly. I no longer see racking up 30k miles a year as some weird badge of honor.
I more or less expected an answer along these lines. Though I was hoping you would take my interest seriously, and that's ok. If you prefer your thoughts to be a moot point to me, so be it. I'll drop it.
 

tikal

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2001
Location
Southeast Texas
TDI
2004 Passat Wagon (chainless + 5 MT + GDE tune)
I agree that if Toyota wants to bring the "ICE Hydrogen Revolution" they better create a reliable fueling infrastructure first.
 

El Dobro

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Feb 21, 2006
Location
NJ
TDI
2017 Bolt EV Premier, 2023 Bolt EUV Premier
I agree that if Toyota wants to bring the "ICE Hydrogen Revolution" they better create a reliable fueling infrastructure first.
Looks like Toyota just had a crash and burn with their fuel cell cars.
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
My cars all burn hydrogen. That's what the 'H' in 'Hydrocarbons' stands for. They burn the hydrogen, and spit out tree food. Win-win. :D
 

tikal

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2001
Location
Southeast Texas
TDI
2004 Passat Wagon (chainless + 5 MT + GDE tune)
I think we agree that the electric grid has been around for some time, but obviously that does not translate to adequate availability of on the road "electric fuel stations".

For the time being, if you are willing to buy a second/third/etc. car to be an EV one, for city use, then you are in good shape with your home charging station. You control the reliability of your charging station at home and you always go for your city commute with the tank full. No road anxiety as you come home before the day is over.
 

kjclow

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Apr 26, 2003
Location
Charlotte, NC
TDI
2010 JSW TDI silver and black. 2017 Ram Ecodiesel dark red with brown and beige interior.
Toyota unveils its secret and surprises the world: New combustion engines, but zero emissions
Toyota has declared for years that the idea of a fully electric vehicle was not the right path and continued to push their hybrid technology. To see them offer a hydrogen solution is not surprising but I'm betting this is still a minor investment compared to the overall hybrid investment.
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
...I'd also add that Toyota hands-down offered the absolute thirstiest gasoline V8 half-ton full-size pickup truck engine in history. I'm pretty sure the 5.7L Tundra gobbles down more gas than a 1970 Silverado did with the same size engine.... and that old Chevy certainly didn't have half the technology and literally only half the gear ratios in its transmission.

So Toyota can virtue signal all they want with every Prius they sell, but they'll also happily try and play the 'murrica pickup game, too.

(it is quite possible that my brother's Tundra while pulling his camper uses more gasoline than my big-block F250 does when towing mine.... I'd have not believed how bad it was until I went on a camping trip with him recently.... holy heck that iForce engine should have been called 'iThirst'. ).

In other news, VAG's Audi division is going to be shutting down the Brussels plant completely, because the switch to making EVs has flopped. This year they expect to only produce half of the number of EVs they did last year (about 25k vs. 51k), and next year they expect the demand to drop to around 6000 cars, meaning it isn't worth keeping the lights on. Shocker. (not really).

Hey, Volkswagen, how about you retool it BACK and build us some diesels instead?
 
Last edited:

dieseldonato

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2023
Location
Us
TDI
2001 jetta
...I'd also add that Toyota hands-down offered the absolute thirstiest gasoline V8 half-ton full-size pickup truck engine in history. I'm pretty sure the 5.7L Tundra gobbles down more gas than a 1970 Silverado did with the same size engine.... and that old Chevy certainly didn't have half the technology and literally only half the gear ratios in its transmission.

So Toyota can virtue signal all they want with every Prius they sell, but they'll also happily try and play the 'murrica pickup game, too.

(it is quite possible that my brother's Tundra while pulling his camper uses more gasoline than my big-block F250 does when towing mine.... I'd have not believed how bad it was until I went on a camping trip with him recently.... holy heck that iForce engine should have been called 'iThirst'. ).

In other news, VAG's Audi division is going to be shutting down the Brussels plant completely, because the switch to making EVs has flopped. This year they expect to only produce half of the number of EVs they did last year (about 25k vs. 51k), and next year they expect the demand to drop to around 6000 cars, meaning it isn't worth keeping the lights on. Shocker. (not really).

Hey, Volkswagen, how about you retool it BACK and build us some diesels instead?
It's not just toyota trucks, my brother has a 19 Nissan titan. It's a gas pig too, 13mpg with any amount of weight behind it.
 

turbobrick240

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 18, 2014
Location
maine
TDI
2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke
All of the headlines I've seen indicate that VW is considering shuttering the Audi plant in Brussels, but hasn't made a definitive decision yet. They must be leaning in that direction though, or they wouldn't have made the announcement. The Brussels location has poor logistics in addition to faltering sales of the luxury Q8 etron models made there.

 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
Just heard from a friend at the multi-brand dealer I worked at for a bit, and the lease turn-ins of the EVs are piling up already and nobody wants them, LMAO... and the lion's share of the people do NOT get another one. This is an Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Range Rover, Infiniti, MB, and formerly Lexus (Lexus is still there, just a different owner) dealership. Apparently, Jaguar is taking those I-pace things and buying them back. Which is really ironic, as they are trying to make a big push for being an EV-only luxury brand. Maybe that'll be their new schtick, they'll just lease them and crush/recycle them after five years and just keep barfing out new ones. THAT'S an excellent thing for the environment!

Which is probably why they try so hard not to sell any, or lease any, because they get stuck with them. What an abysmally bad series of decisions. Boy they piss money away on the TV commercials, though.
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
...boy talk about a money fire, you can wholesale buy a 3-year-old I-pace with less than 15k miles on it for about $22k. Wow. I think those things were like $80k+ new!
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
I saw a news article about low EV lease payments yesterday, went on the Hyundai site, and saw I could get a $37,500 Ioniq 6 for $199/mo. That's costing someone some money.
 

turbobrick240

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 18, 2014
Location
maine
TDI
2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke
All of the manufacturers get IRA checks from the govt. on leased EVs. Most of them are passing that on to consumers in the form of lower lease payments. Makes the leases pretty attractive.
 

turbobrick240

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 18, 2014
Location
maine
TDI
2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke
More of a hibachi than a bonfire. There aren't huge numbers taking advantage of the cheap leases.
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
I read that about 70% of EVs are leased. That is more than twice the percentage of ICE vehicles that are leased.
 
Top