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Showing content with the highest reputation on 04/08/2019 in all areas

  1. The point, as I see it, is that government environmental regulations will soon make pure ICE power units impossible. The only way to get the emissions under the proposed new limits will be hybrid or electric power units. Hybrids in their present form are too complicated and expensive. The perfect vehicle should not need two different types of power unit bolted together. The sooner we can get rid of the ICE bit, the better. Hybrids are merely a stop-gap until battery technology is good enough to get you further than to the shops and back. Ideally, we need a range between charges of greater than 300 miles. The benefit of electric vehicles to the individual driver is debatable. The benefit to society as a whole is easier to see. The days of burning as much fuel as you can afford are long gone (although the petrolhead in me still feels a slightly guilty sense of sadness).
    2 points
  2. Good morning everyone, Thank you to everyone who has completed the survey so far - there's been over 50 responses which has been fantastic - great to see such an active community. I've been pulling together some design concepts and prototypes and taking onboard some of the feedback I've read here e.g. MPG vs m/kwh. I'm on annual leave this week and will be posting links to a prototype and opportunity to feedback on my return! Thanks again! 🙌 Karim
    2 points
  3. This has been the case on every aircon-equipped car I've driven, and certainly not unique to Toyota. Turning on the aircon demists the screen very quickly, but if you then turn the aircon off the residual moisture trapped in the system evaporates and steams the screen up again. In damp weather to avoid this problem you've really either got to leave the aircon running continuously or just never use it at all. Exactly the same as on the VWs, Fords, Peugeots etc I've owned with aircon too.
    1 point
  4. I had heard that hybrids aren't any good on the motorway but I bought one anyway after testing one out. Turns out that they are excellent on the motorway, I regularly see 55+ mpg on a 40 mile run and that only increases once I reach town as the full battery gets me most of the way to my destination with very little assistance from the engine. The onboard computer does overguesstimate by 3-4mpg, but my long term average (calculated brim to brim fillups) over the last 9 months or so is 54.5mpg (UK) over 4600 miles with a fair mixture of short local journeys to the supermarket and longer runs at up to 65mph. I don't tend to drive faster as I prefer a relaxed drive, which by the way the hybrid system promotes. Part of the reason why I chose the hybrid is because it encourages gentle acceleration and it is extremely relaxing to drive. The only minor annoyance is going uphill with cruise on makes the engine a bit loud sometimes but wafting in town on battery more than makes up for that.
    1 point
  5. Hi Billy, Have a look at this ln the "How to guides" (Up at the top of the page) and skip down about half way as it gives a good guide to any change of wheel or tyre size. https://www.toyotaownersclub.com/tutorials/article/73-aygo-frequently-asked-questions/ Just be aware that you'll have to inform your insurer of any change....Some charge, some don't but I do love an Aygo with alloys.....They make a huge difference to the look and feel of our motors. I'm still with the original 14" alloys on my Fire but keep thinking about 15" alloys with a wider tyre. Good luck with your new purchase......Post a couple of photos, Matey.....We all love those!!!!
    1 point
  6. Many Thanks Paulinho T
    1 point
  7. Completed with reservations. With a PHV the consumption is nigh impossible to predict with it changing from electric to petrol on medium runs. The charging socket needs a kWh meter on it! With an empty battery I use the 2nd trip recorder and see 80-90 mpg depending whether I'm in the Peak District or the flat. On combined runs the MPG is normally showing above the 199 mpg max reading average. And it's a Toyota, isn't the Extremely satisfied box superfluous
    1 point
  8. Lots of people only do short journeys - I do a few short journeys per day, each less than 20 miles. If you combine a plugin hybrid with solar panels (and a bright day) your 4kW system will add 12 miles per plugged in hour. Result - pollution free driving. The UK government has this vision of the future - houses with solar panels, plugged in cars charging up via panels or cheap rate electricity, said cars feeding back electricity when demand rises - all this will smooth out electricity generation demands. Check out how Tesla battery farms help electricity grid systems - plugged in cars will do the same in this future.
    1 point
  9. I drive a Hybrid (company car-my choice) Good MPG (what other 1.8 AUTO will give me average 55 mpg) Low emissions Low BIK (tax) The Prius was introduced TWENTY TWO years ago, proven Hybrid technology, many used in the taxi trade (Uber and PH) HV Batteries now priced at around £1000, I can honestly say we have only ever fitted a small handful of new HV batteries in those 22 years. It is not just about MPG
    1 point
  10. The Toyota NIMH battery packs are made up from individual cells - the Yaris has 20 in a stack - bigger cars have more. There are places that can open the stacks and just replace the failed items. Search ebay for secondhand tested cells and youtube for how to do it if you are brave enough to diy!
    1 point
  11. The big battery is expensive, but I cant remember anyone saying they had to change one. Remember, a petrol or diesel car has a starter motor, an alternator, a clutch assembly. How much do they cost when they go, and thats likely to be more frequent then a big battery. Dont know about other manufacturers hybrids but Toyota Prius/Auris, plus others in the range and Lexus, do not have such wearable parts. How much warranty would you like on the big battery. See Heidfirst last post. I thought the Toyota warranty ran up to 10 years, but if you have it checked during the last year (week 52 if you like) then it makes 11 years. I think that shows Toyota have faith in their product. My on board computer shows that, on average, over 50% of journeys are on electric. Whats wrong with that.????? I used to be a diesel owner - for the last 26 years before changing to Toyota Hybrid (Auris/Prius), my diesels were doing over 60mpg mostly (Yaris and Quashqai), was sorry to let them go, but times are moving forward. No doubt soon, when battery technology means smaller/lighter batteries/lasting longer, Toyota will come out with pure battery cars. Until then I think a Hybrid is the way to go, self recharging battery, not tied to a cable.
    1 point
  12. As the first UK deliveries were from 1st March, thought it would be unlikely there would be many/any responses from Corolla hybrid owners befire the survey closes. However, a link has been put in the Corolla club.
    1 point
  13. I must good low light vision, because my car has standard halogen bulbs and I get by driving in the unlit Kent/Sussex roads and motorways. My beef is with badly adjusted lights and aftermarket systems. That's why there are regulations in place. It would be disappointing to order one of these kits to find they don't fit or work. What about the Osram Night breaker.
    1 point
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