Originally Posted by wag123
Originally Posted by The Critic
The stories you hear about taxicabs are not applicable to privately owned vehicles - taxis see very different usage cycles.
Yes, but taxi usage cycles are much more severe than the average private owner will ever subject their Hybrid to. On Toyota Hybrids, the electric drive system and battery are used primarily and largely at speeds under 35mph. New York City taxi cabs operate their entire lives at speeds under 35mph, so their Hybrid battery utilization is much higher than that of a typical car owner's Hybrid battery utilization. The NiMh battery pack that Toyota developed in conjunction with Panasonic EV is a marvelous technical achievement and was the MOST important part of Toyota's Hybrid development process. IMO, after 20 years and hundreds upon hundreds of million miles experience, the quality of Toyota's NiMh battery pack has proven itself beyond any doubt.
Toyota, rightly so, invested a lot in battery development. That is why BMW made a deal with Toyota for technology exchange. Toyota supplies batteries to BMW hybrids, while BMW supplies diesel engines for Euro market and high performance gas engine for Supra.
No one is better than Toyota in hybrid department, there is no doubt about that.
Unfortunately, in other departments they are mediocre.
Originally Posted by The Critic
The stories you hear about taxicabs are not applicable to privately owned vehicles - taxis see very different usage cycles.
Yes, but taxi usage cycles are much more severe than the average private owner will ever subject their Hybrid to. On Toyota Hybrids, the electric drive system and battery are used primarily and largely at speeds under 35mph. New York City taxi cabs operate their entire lives at speeds under 35mph, so their Hybrid battery utilization is much higher than that of a typical car owner's Hybrid battery utilization. The NiMh battery pack that Toyota developed in conjunction with Panasonic EV is a marvelous technical achievement and was the MOST important part of Toyota's Hybrid development process. IMO, after 20 years and hundreds upon hundreds of million miles experience, the quality of Toyota's NiMh battery pack has proven itself beyond any doubt.
Toyota, rightly so, invested a lot in battery development. That is why BMW made a deal with Toyota for technology exchange. Toyota supplies batteries to BMW hybrids, while BMW supplies diesel engines for Euro market and high performance gas engine for Supra.
No one is better than Toyota in hybrid department, there is no doubt about that.
Unfortunately, in other departments they are mediocre.