Why my Toyota Highlander wants to plug in hybrid.... PHEV conversion SULEV

[kirk189]

I love PHEV's BUT!!!!!!! it's not the Governments job!!!!

[xxscorpioxx2]

u have a point u should protest lol burning gas and oil is old school the country should take a step fwd into technology and do wat u explained in the video theres nothing to loose

[italianospeed]

I want a hybrid electric plug in highlander asap! If Toyota produces I will buy two!

[10p6]

Interesting.  I wish Ford would sell a Lithium / Plug in conversion pack for the Escape Hybrid.

[Colt45hatchback]

i understand people want an electric car to save the enviroment and oil etc etc, but these cars are ridiculous, the distance you can drive them on electricity alone is pathetic, its fine for old people or unemployed mums picking up and dropping off a child at school, but no more camping trips or long sunday drives through the countryside, i believe that they would make a more effective car that runs on electricity, and water, eg: a steam powered car with an electric heating element

[the43k]

@Colt, I think your understanding of EV's on the market is limited. For instance, the chevy volt will go 25 to 50 miles on pure electric, after that a gas back up engine will take you a combined 350 miles. Since 80% of americans go less then 40 miles/day, The volt could drastically reduce oil consumption. And for the weekend trip to grandma's you don't have a problem. I own a volt and don't use any gas for about 99% of my driving. I've driven a 1000 miles this month and used 2 gallons of gas.

[xxscorpioxx2]

@the43k so u get 500mpg?? hows that possible

[mickeymouse7575]

you are right... but i don't get why your replies to people are so rude !! if you are trying to deliver a MSG then you should be nice explaining and replying to people

thank you

[margolo]

It's fine for in town, but you can't have any fun with the stupid thing on the highway.

I think i'll let the wife get one, and i'll stick to my gas guzzling V8 455 Skylark.

[zezimawanabefriends]

i m sorry i couldnt hear what he said i was to close to my truck bearning it up lol

[mishotatishvili]

boring!

[automotiveDIY]

ill stick with my gasoline and diesel. its been used for 100 years and is proven to work for long periods of time.

[the43k]

automotiveDIY Fantastic idea, You stick with gasoline and the US will continue to send 1 Billon Dollars a day to the middle east. O yeah. Do yourself a favor and google "peak oil". Then in 5 years, reply back and tell me how much your 14 MPG SUV is costing you a week. Lastly, regarding your other post. You are right that oil still exists in electricity production, except its about 2% made by petroleum and that portion can and could be from domestic supplies.

[diesel5355]

@the43k the solution for the middle eastern oil dependency problem is AMERICAN DRILLING of oil. Hybrids are cool though

[yeye12344]

@automotiveDIY actualy look again wen u say that it is proben for long periods of time haha there is no infinite petrol in the world so 1 day u wont have gas anymore and all bitches saying but electric cars dont have enough milage cant go far enough that day all electric inteligents that have a electric car will say see 2day i can go more far than u with ur gas car so ye go electric not cuz somethings works that we cant make something better .

[711shamonkey]

@automotiveDIY

what's not proven is that we have an unlimited supply of oil at our disposal. it's also not proven that global warming/climate change is a myth. i wonder if you live on the coast, and are looking forward to the ice caps melting. BTW, I do love diesel, and am looking forward to a hybrid diesel (planned by volvo and subaru soon). too bad Mr. Diesel's plan for it to run on peanut oil was usurped by big petroleum. Just think of all that fast food grease that goes to the landfill.

[automotiveDIY]

@711shamonkey almost 100% of waste vegtable oil goes to the companies that sell biodiesel. it is against federal law to put vegtable oil in a landfill.

[automotiveDIY]

no you have not completely alleviated yourself of foreign oil. guess what is being used to create the electricity that is going into the plug???? coal, oil, water, solar, and wind. and oil makes up 70% of that.

[99gsx4g63t]

@GarrettKeetley if you're talking concept cars that will never see the light of day, then yes. Otherwise no.

[99gsx4g63t]

@GarrettKeetley lol, there is no 'they'. peugeot 308 is it, and at a hefty price and it still only gets what a Prius gets, never mind the much more complex system it needs since it has 2 independent drivetrains. No one wants to spend $40,000 on a car that can get just a tiny bit better mpg then a car half it's price.

[99gsx4g63t]

@GarrettKeetley lol the idea might be there, but they DON'T have diesel-electrics.

[99gsx4g63t]

@GarrettKeetley wrong, even vw knows it...that's why they are switching over to gas-electric hybrids

[urbex2007]

Why are you saying MILES PER GALLON when the electric motors are running? They run off electric NOT petrol. You are deliberately misleading people by confusing the miles per gallon measurement of how far the car will travel on the engine with a gallon of petrol with how far it goes on battery power. The two are NOT the same. In the UK you would be prosecuted by Trading Standards for telling lies and misleading people by making fraudulent claims! MPG is not an electrical measurement. RATED 0.

[the43k]

@urbex2007 At 2:52.... "MPG equivalent" Get the wax out of you ears!!! And please don't call the trading standard police. Do me a favor, worry about BP oil destroying the gulf of mexico and a little less about accusing me of intentionally misleading people.

[DannyVogue]

Im not exactly sure that you understand what your saying. I mean, whats the answer to your question??

Your question is why doesnt the auto industry and goverment not allow it? Have you not noticed thats exactly what Chevy, Toyota, and Volvo has been working on? Its not released yet because the technology is not as easy as you make it seem. For one, lithuim although good, die much faster than nickle. so that means you have to change it faster. second, cold startups arent possible with lithuium

[the43k]

@Danny First of all, this video is over two years old. Second, I was suggesting America wasn't focusing on this issue. Instead, the American auto industry was focusing on bravado and raising your sperm count. IE Hummers, Corvettes, Yukons and 24 foot long pick up trucks, that 90% of the owners never put anything inside of. Now that we have woken up to high gas prices, environmental issues and the fact that we send 1 billion dollars a day to the middle east for oil. Things are progressing

[ElectricCarFan]

I am very impressed at the level of accuracy that your video possesses! Although I already knew everything your video stated (I've done research for years on this), I still found it very informative. I am glade to hear someone else that is well informed and willing to make the changes required to step into the Zero Emission future. Also, the editing and delivery of your information was awesome as well.

[the43k]

@ElectricCarFan Thanks for the compliment. I'm planning on a Chevy Volt next. No luck with a Highlander aftermarket PHEV just yet.

[ElectricCarFan]

@the43k I am personally going to buy a Nissan Leaf since it is entirely electric powered and I don't think GM will actually bring out the VOLT since they don't act serious about it. I also may buy a Gen 2 Prius and then drive it to California to get it converted by a 3rd party PHEV. One possible option I may consider is to also buy a Mitsubishi iMiev, Prius PHEV (Toyota manufactured), Ford Focus EV, Subaru R1e, RAV4 EV (new version), and or convert my own car to electricity.

[eddieshiu]

My 2009 Corolla can drive 500km/tank(I counted it when the first time gas light on), and my 2007 Camry Hybrid can drive 900-1000km/tank(920km in average). Drive your car polite not only save gasoline, save brake pad, save tires, and save life, too.

[urbex2007]

MPG is *ONLY* calculated when the car is run continuously with the petrol engine running. This is not a true MPG reading. You can't say an electric motor does so many MPG as it isn't using gallons of fuel. Stop confusing the two terms as they are very different. What you need is a diesel turbo car, diesel technology left electric cars standing 20 years ago. Companies will stop you using electric cars as they want to sell fuel. Why has electric technology never moved on?

[rcardona1404]

The Mercury Mariner hybrid more mpgs than this on a similar SUV body style and quite a bit less expensive. Even less expensive is to buy a used one. Then it gets not only affordable but it makes more sense financially. I bought an 08 with 23,000 miles, max out on accessories for 23K. Gets 35 mpgs on the road. Depending on AC/heat use about the same in the city. Goes electric below 25 mph on residential streets. Ford Escape is similar.

[silverkasik]

I am on the market for a new car and as much as I care about our environment I also need to think my own pocket.

Unless you drive in the city traffic hybrid cras are not really good on gas. cars cost more. so why would you pay more upfront and try to get your money back in long term and then try to save. of course by the time you start saving your car gets old and then you start paying higher maintanance fees because of the technology in these cars. you cant just go to any shop.

[navybluebill]

Great video. Hopefully American will be more open minded to using renewable energy to power our vehicles. I'm crossing my fingers that the Volt and LEAF will be widely accepted by Americans. If not I'm sure in Asian and Europe it will be. The automotive companies in those countries will surpass ours and we will be left driving vehicles powered by outdated inefficient technology.

[Flipster1325]

i would never ever drive a prius but i could drive a highlander or even a lexus rx400h

[delta3303]

I know right? My Toyota Corolla sheet says 51mpg on the highway and something like 35-40 in town which is frickin awesome!!!

[TSBludenzF35]

Hybrid sucks. It is not usefull

[EqualsThreeable]

What an idiot, we will never get rid of our dependence on foreign oil, you still need oil for all your car parts, just cause your not using gasoline from oil, you still have to make motor oil.

[piglett2195]

he he he U make me laugh. & U are starting 2 sound like a parrot by saying the same thing over & over. So i will call all of the oil companys & tell them what U said . the only trouble is that most grocery stores only have a 3 day inventory on hand.

so after that U had better be ready to fend 4 ur self parrot boy. good luck to ya.

[wingpilot87]

Let me repeat for the Challenged. Focus on the math, the energy, it takes to 'CREATE' a Gallon of Gas. ok, one more time, Focus on the math it takes to 'CREATE' a Gallon of GAS! here we go, stay with me, How much energy does it take to 'MAKE' a Gallon of GAS! Remember the US 2010 MPG target. For the SAME energy it takes to 'MAKE' a Gallon of GAS, I can use this same energy to drive an electric car today at the US's MPG target. The oil companies can leave the oil in the ground.

[piglett2195]

well if they were just making 1 gallon of gas at a time yes it would require a large amount of energy , however they are making milions of gallons at one time.

also not everyone buys new overpriced cars . many used toyotas will be on the road for the next 20 or more years ....as they should be their owners paid good money for them so they should be able to run them till their wheels fall off IMHO.

hell i still have a well used 88' toyota pickup that i will run till it falls apart on me.

[TheFutureLooksGrimm]

Rechargeable batteries don't last forever though. I remember once reading that it takes many years for solar panel systems to pay off and you need to replace the recharegable batter after so many years. I know that cell phone batteries last on average of 2 years or 300-400 full charges. AA batteries last 1,000 charges. Even the best batteries won't last you forever. After paying the high price for the vehicle, when you finally start seeing money come back, you'll need to replace the batteries.

[piglett2195]

yes your rite on the mark.

they cost too much to start with & in the end there is little or no return on your extra investment.

i am just looking at the cost factor here not other factors like some posters here are ......so hey it this type of vehicle works for you, well run rite out & get one or even two if U like , it's not my money

[idrivesafe]

Agreed. Nice video btw

[idrivesafe]

75%+ of people in America, on the roads, cannot afford this....

we will have gas cars n trucks for the next 100 years pal

[the43k]

Your 100% right, over time cost will come down and it will be more affordable... As for oil... it is a fantastic product that we need and will continue to use. It is far more useful in a million different ways than burning it. We send 1 trillion dollar per year to the middle east.. Lets stop

[piglett2195]

exactly !!

[ekuwa69]

Truth is no matter where you get the electricity, it is still less polluting than a internal combustion engine. As for plug in hybrids, I believe they all should be set up in the way of the Chevy volt, where the engine is ONLY used to recharge the batteries. That way we never waste a drop of gas.

[ic0517]

Our 2009 Toyota Sienna claimed it was getting 99 mpg when going down a hill on a highway in Kentucky. Of course I had to snicker, there's no way, its just dividing by a very small number, and the averaging interval is too small. The same may apply to your HH.

2. Stating a car is 100+ mpg is misleading - you need to some how factor in how much fossil fuel was consumed at the electrical plant - perhaps there should be some agreed upon unit of work to unit of volume gasoline conversion factor.

[jake60630]

im sorry its if you only put on ev only

[falcon02012]

some fact

30% of us economy is based on oil byproducts.

dollar value derived from oil lookup petrodollar

what you are prepossessing is the destruction of us economy

you are not looking at the big picture .

[farmedb314]

Using less gas in our cars will lower demand which will lower the price, and leave more available for the other things we use oil for like plastics. It can only help our economy.

[the43k]

Not looking at the big picture???? Falcon, we'll ignore the climate change aspect, since I suspect you don't believe in it. So think about this, We send 1 Trillion dollars a year to the middle east for oil, to countries who don't like us. We also borrow this money from china to do it. Our economy, our security and our only chance of survival is to get off oil ASAP. Our nation can provide jobs in wind, solar, batteries, etc. If your blind to this, I suggest you stop watching Fox news.

[PulSamsara]

So.... you're advocating for corporate welfare ? Hmmm... just like the defense industry and agri-biz ?? Well... that's a lousy way to bring America forward - setting up inefficiencies that 'are too big to fail'.  A corporate welfare state. No thanks.

[jake60630]

2009 highlander is better it can get 60 mpg :p

[the43k]

No way... I suspect you mean the new Prius. If toyota was producing a SUV that got 60 MPG, every other auto dealer on the planet would be out of business.

[jake60630]

no is the highlander

[the43k]

Jake, since you seem to like going on the internet, go on Toyotas site or just google 2010 Toyota Highlander hybrid and read the MPG of the hybrid highlander. Its nowhere close to 60 mph, I wish it was.

[lowenstein007]

You play with Legos kid.

[chewchewg]

$10,000 battery? Are you kidding me?

I wonder this narrator bought this plug-in conversion batter pack.. I can't afford extra $10k to save the earth.. This is luxury someone could afford and feel good about it..

[the43k]

You are 100% correct. These are being created by enthusiast, students at universities or small companies. It has been suggested that if Toyota or other major car companies produced these in the production line it could cost about 3K to 4K. Its like any other product, cell phone, computer or video game, the original always cost a lot more then the next generation. This technology is in its infancy.

[thecarexpert18]

is the honda insight a hybrid?

[thecarexpert18]

i don't know if i should get a honda or toyota!!!

[NaziZombies09]

Well, i heard that they will produce these cars soon. But i would rather drive something more powerful than an electric car.

[the43k]

If you want something more powerful than an electric car, you better buy a rocketship. An electric car is far quicker than any standard gas powered vehicle. Power and speed will not be a problem.

[NaziZombies09]

No, im pretty sure they are not.

[otterlakerules]

man you should look on youtube wat electric can do. 1 of them beat a Z06 on a 1/4mile without problems.

[cedric333]

those power stations create tons of pollution.. same thing as driving a gas car. I say Hydrogen cars are better..

[the43k]

Not true. It is not perfect. However, coal made electricity is still better gasoline. Its cleaner and it changes our dependency from foreign to domestic. As stated, the biggest advantage is that we can change to a clean renewable electricity or you could produce your own power at home via solar or wind.

[the43k]

As far as Hydrogen, it will be great, except we are 20 years away for a working implemented version.

[cedric333]

yes but not really. What about the Bmw hydrogren 7 and the honda clarity. Both different routes on hydrogen cars, but both are 'working' versions. Problem is no fuel stations...

[Trommylee]

i agree completely. actually, my comment was an attempt to put 4ward the idea for those who, instead of making your point, basically argue that these cars are dirty and therefore aren't part of the solution to pollution.

[Trommylee]

let's assume, that global warming is BS. air pollution is very real. even if it isn't melting the polar ice cap, it still produces ill effects on land and people. IMO, the oil companies manipulate gas prices to maximize profit. they have the country by the balls. in August, gas prices were 2x today's prices. i don't think the country is driving 50% less. people say electric cars aren't clean since many get juice off the fossil fueled grid. U drive the car, not the grid.

[the43k]

One great benefit to electric vehicles is that it focuses the distribution of emissions. Instead of a million cars spewing fumes in a million different places, you have one central location. Now the central location can be modified or replaced. As I've stated in the video the other great benefit is that the owner of the vehicle can produce his or her own electricity at home by some form of renewable energy.

[the43k]

Many answers to this question, but mass production of hybrids would drive down costs. We (the USA) have only woken up to expensive oil and climate change about a year ago and gas prices have already come down (for now) Thanks to Obama, we have a great chance. I think you will see a massive investment in PHEV batteries, the smart grid with V2G (vehicle to Grid) and things will change, but not soon enough. It will take a long time before you see 15,000 hybrids unfortunately.

[FTrain4750]

Where do you think electricity to charge that thing is coming from. That is right, your local power plant, giving off tons more of this CO2 you babble about.

[the43k]

I'm going to assume your a non-believer of global warming since you appear to be confrontational, but I would suggest that you failed to comprehend my point. Yes, in many areas electricity is made by coal, this can and will change over time. As stated, you could produce your own electricity via solar panels or wind. Lastly, even if your assumptions were correct, it would still trade home grown power away from middle east oil production. You know, the "evil do'ers & smoke um out" people.

[christopher12344321]

Not only that- but there is the efficiency problem- gasoline engines are only 15% efficient in a normal car. hybritds can boost this, but only to about 20%. while a large generator can have efficiencies as high as 60%, and most of the fuel of a power plant is spend during the night, idling- but if we plug in our cars, it is using the fuel for a cause. and finally there is cost, a plug in hybrid costs one quarter to refill- aka pocket change from the soda machine.

im with you, the43k.

[lweinbergjr]

Global Warming may be real but Man-Made Global Warming is a Religion. Earths climate undergos NATRUAL variations. The SUN is a dynamic system and has massive impact on climate over 100's of human life spans.

Example: 12,000 years ago New York was covered in Ice about 2 miles deep. All that ice melted due to natural climate variations. This banter about too much CO2 is rubbish, a tax grab and a research funding gravy-train. This big govt-bad science feedback loop needs to be broken.

[the43k]

You have every right to believe anything you want. The earth tends to change slowly unless acted upon by something massive, IE meteor, massive volcano, comet, etc etc. The earths temperature does fluctuate as you have stated, but I wish you would spend the time to review scientific information suggesting your natural variation assumption is way off track of normal variations. We have the data of temperatures and CO2 for millions of years thru ice data.

[the43k]

When the polar ice cap is gone during summer, will you believe then? Regardless, in respect to our nations sustainability, security, economy and our rivers, air and streams, wouldn't it be worth it to change our behavior anyway???

[wolfie672]

43k I am afraid there are so many flat earthers out there that refute rigorous scientific data based on ideology that solutions that you state that are so reasonable will not be acted on in enough time to prevent catastrophic CO2 levels in the atmosphere. I really do not understand the psychology of these people!

[a1mint]

I refuse to buy any new car until I see an affordable car that is electric powered. I'm ok with temporary petrol based generator, but I want the engine to be electric. No more piston based combustion engines ever.

I can drive my existing car for another 15 years (it's a Honda which isn't purposely sabotaged to have a limited lifespan like the gm's).

[lpgas1]

good video .. but have you not heard of the toyota rav4ev? 140 miles per charge on nimh? lithium has not been tested beyond 50,000miles yet nimh has! you dont need a hybrid full electric is far better!

[the43k]

Thank you, I would be happy with any battery that would solve the problem. Plug in Hybrids are the answer.

[lpgas1]

i dont think they would be if the car companies made their full electric drive cars again! the ev1, rav4ev,ford think, honda ev etc. they want us to forget! those rav 4 ev's are still going stong because they have the battery that chevron texaco wont let us have anymore! at least not until the patent runs out in 2014!

[piglett2195]

how do the electric companys generate power rite now? coal???? that stuff is a bit dirty ....isn't it ?

i purchased a corolla that cost about 10K less than a prius & it still gets 40mpg if U don't drive like a nut

[the43k]

Utilities generate power in many ways, yes, many are coal fired. In NJ it is about half coal with nuclear, gas. and misc. However, we can produce clean power and you can produce clean power on your roof. So enjoy your corolla and I hope when you buy your next car, we have made the transition to a more sustainable future.

[wingpilot87]

Piglett2195

Have you taken the time to do the math of how much energy it takes to make / create a gallon of gas. No you have not. Be sure to remember the US taget for MPG fuel efficient cars for 2010. Now after you have done the correct math you will come to the same conclusion, the oil companies can leave the oil in the ground and I will just use my electric car which already meets these targets without the 'need' to 'create' gas.

[piglett2195]

hey dude i just checked the price of these silly things & they want about 40k for a new one. i think i will pass on all of that & keep buying much lower priced gas powered toyotas.

[a1mint]

Doesn't Exxon own the patent on nimh batteries?

[lpgas1]

chevron owns it and they more than likely own exxon? =] they makea the worlda go rounda!

[a1mint]

I'm looking at both the Exxon and Chevron pages on Wikipedia and I'm not seeing the link or that one owns the other.

I'm seeing that the nimh patent expires in 2015. If that means that only then we'll see electric cars proliferate, it's proof that:

1) Chevron are scumbags

2) Patents stifle innovation

[piglett2195]

without the patent laws most research would all but stop. why would a company spend millions on research to have their idea stolen the 1st day it enters the marketplace ???

[a1mint]

Patent laws stifle innovation.

If a company has a technology that's hard enough to duplicate and they keep that technology secret (if that's possible), then they'd have the edge.

Patenting trivial things leads of extortion, blackmail, and trolling, and many other things that is not good for progress.

[piglett2195]

@a1mint it's not about keeping it secret it's just saying that no other company can use the same technology for a period of time (i think pattens are good for 10 years)

without paying the company that spent millions to develop this unique technology.

that is how it's always been done here in the good old USA ....so it's can't be all bad.

[a1mint]

That's why noone can have a Sageway like device. That's why Exxon is just sitting on battery technology, keeping it out of the hands of car manufacturers. That's why patent troll companies buy patents solely for the reason of suing companies.

Remember how RIM got sued? Over just about nothing... 100's of millions of dollars just like that!

Patents stifle innovation period.

[liveoilfree]

Well, it's 17 years; the patents expire in 2015. But after that, Chevron will think of something else. Heck, when it was Standard Oil, old J.D. Rockefeller watched his competitors refineries blow up, and watched railroad unfair discriminatory rates drive them out of business. All coincidence!!!

[liveoilfree]

but using patent law to SUPPRESS inventions is contrary to the intent of paten law. Chevron, an oil company, used its partially-subsidized (by US government) wealth to buy up and suppress NiMH use.

[farmedb314]

Actually several EVrs have driven cars with LiFePO4 for over 100K miles.

[lpgas1]

check when the comment was posted....i posted it a year ago. and not too many had done near that amount then and i'm not sure if many will or how long the batteries will last time wise. only time will tell. i know they have more energy density than nimh but they are a proven thing! thats all i was getting at. i know when my lead acids die i'll get lithiums too but i was just saying!

[h2fcell]

NPNS - No Plug, No Sale!