- snitzoid
Does Tesla have the right approach to EV or Toyota? Spritzler speaks!
Updated: Jun 7
That's a tough question and depends on where you drive, how much you drive every day and the weight you place on the environment. And it's not obvious, plus the tech is changing rapidly.
What's challenging about full EV cars (like Tesla)?
The batteries are heavy(about 1,000 lbs), expensive and generate considerable pollution to build. The reason it takes an EV car 4-5 years to pay of it's carbon premium is the Lithium battery on board. So contrary to Biden's BS, Tesla's aren't much more environmentally friendly than gas-powered cars.
If you need to go on a long trip, charging an EV mid route can add a little speed bump. How much time it adds depends on what type you're driving and how easy it is to find a charging station. The cost is less than gassing up (typically about 1/3rd the cost).
Toyota's approach and some relevant facts.
The average American drives about 37 miles per day (Kelly Blue Book study/5/15/23).
Several new plug-in hybrids can travel 40-50 miles on a single charge. More will as time goes on. If these cars run out of charge, they switch to gas power.
For the majority of drivers, this means that they can handle most of their driving using EV only.
The hybrid EV battery typically weighs between 120-170 lbs (about 800 lbs less than an all EV car battery) and, more importantly, produces a fraction of the pollution to produce. The weight savings makes propelling the car easier (considerable as the battery weight savings exceed the weight of the gas engine on board).
Ergo, for a typical driver, this car can be considerably more environmentally friendly. Plus the precious metals required to be mined (several key elements of which come from unfriendly nations) are dramatically less.
100% EV's pros:
No oil changes. Essentially zero maintenance.
What might change:
Battery tech is changing rapidly. In the near future, the range of EV only and hybrids (in EV mode) will likely improve. Plus if battery production shifts to sodium vs lithium (which Tesla and others are investigating), the carbon penalty for EV may be significantly reduced.
Snitz's take.
For a considerable share of the population, a hybrid car generates far less carbon to produce and provides mostly EV power during normal daily driving. Toyota may have it right for many car buyers.