CleanMPG

The reveal shows improvements in everything including curb appeal, all-electric range, acceleration, cargo volume, safety, and technology.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Nov. 16, 2022


Following on the heels of the all-new 2023 Toyota Prius reveal(s) from Japan and last night in Los Angeles, I am not going to neglect the Prime. There are quite a few details within the following linked 2023 Toyota Prius stories to keep us busy for a while.

• Meet the US Spec, All-new, 5th Gen, 2023 Toyota Prius Hybrid -- There are so many technology upgrades and it’s a beauty to boot!...

Your ticket to rekindle an automotive romance - a compact car with luxury-grade aspirations

Cliff Leppke – CleanMPG – Nov. 16, 2022


As with Frank Sinatra, the Mazda3 proves “Nice ‘n’ Easy” does it every time. Mazda’s force-fed compact doesn’t use its engine, six-speed automatic transmission or suspension to tear through corners and beat others at the stoplight Grand Prix. Instead, Mazda down speeded the engine (2,300 rpm at 72 mph) to a hushed murmur; rushing things would be a crime.

And its developers made the necessary stops along the way toward upscale mobility. Mazda asks a modest $34,710 for this vehicle. There’s a color head up display with blind-spot warnings. The car’s chief calling card is its handsome if tight interior with a rubbery dash pad, stitched...

There are so many technology upgrades and it’s a beauty to boot!

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Nov. 16, 2022


Los Angeles, CA -- With global and local Prius sales having seen their best days when the second gen was released back in late 2003, early 2004, the Prius’ obituary has been written more than once by well-known pundits and EV enthusiasts worldwide.

US Prius sales of 19,539 through Q3 2022 were down 31.8% below the 28,361 sold through Q3 of 2021. US Prius Prime sales of 7,469 through Q3 2022 were down 66.7% below the 22,407 sold through Q3 of 2021. With the loss of the $4,509 Fed tax credit this fall, the Prime sales decline was almost a forgone conclusion.

Although sales have faltered over the years, the underpinning hybrid technology has made its way into...

The Japanese specs will vary slightly from the US equipment which I will reveal tomorrow night after the NDA has lapsed.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Nov. 16, 2022


Toyota has unveiled the all-new Prius for the first time globally, with Series Parallel Hybrid (HEV) models to launch this winter and the Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) – Prime here, models to launch this coming Spring of 2023.

Arriving with the tagline "Just in time for the 21st century," the Prius was first launched in 1997 as the world's first mass-produced hybrid car.

The model's second generation introduced the Prius' distinctive monoform silhouette for the first time and delivered even better fuel efficiency with the inclusion of an evolved Series Parallel Hybrid System (THSII).

The third generation Prius introduced...

It has been revealed!

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Nov. 15, 2022


Simon Humphries, Senior GM of Global Toyota Design:

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, my name is. Thank you very much for joining us today.

So let's talk Prius...

You know, with the current focus on BEVs it seems not a day goes by without hearing. "#how long are you going to keep making hybrids for...?"

So today, I'd like to talk about Toyota's new hybrid car!

But maybe I can give you an insight into the passion behind the next generation Prius,... including an "interesting struggle" between Akio Toyoda, the president, and the development team, about the direction we should take.

The Prius debuted in 1997, and as you well know, its name comes from the Latin word for...

Lower base price, more trims, power, features and available AWD but an overall lowering of efficiency is in store.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Oct. 18, 2022


2022 vs 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Pricing

2022 Corolla LE HEV: 15” alloys w/ P195/65R15 tires - 53/52/52 mpg – 24,050 + $1,095 D&H

2023 Corolla LE HEV: 16" steel w/ 205/55R16 tires - 50/43/47 mpg – $22,800 + $1,095 D&H
2023 Corolla SE HEV: 18" alloys w/ P225/40R18 tires - 50/43/47 mpg – $25,200 + $1,095 D&H
2023 Corolla XLE HEV: 16" alloys w/ 205/55R16 tires - 50/43/47 mpg – $26,600 + $1,095 D&H

2023 Corolla LE/SE/XLE AWD trims - 44 mpg

For 2023, the Toyota Corolla Hybrid received a significant number of upgrades as a refreshed model. A more powerful hybrid...

Livestream of the World Premier in Japan will occur late on Tuesday evening, November 15, 2022.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Nov. 15, 2022


The most efficient gasoline fueled vehicle in the world is about to receive a number of user-friendly upgrades. And surely a bump in efficiency as well.

Los Angeles, CA -- Toyota continuously improves its products as it strives to solve the problems facing all of us with regards to personal transportation coexisting sustainably within the environment that we all live. Under the banner of "Achieving Zero," Toyota’s future goal is zero environmental impact from the vehicles they produce, ship, we purchase, drive, and ultimately dispose of. Additionally, Toyota is looking "Beyond Zero" which we first saw at the bZ4X...

Home solar, home storage and use via V2H, and V2G for grid load balance is the “Ultium” goal.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Oct. 11, 2022


GM introduced its Ultium Home and Ultium Commercial systems that will create an all-around energy management system under a new business unit called GM Energy.

GM Energy is designed to offer energy management for home, commercial and EV customers, with solutions ranging from bi-directional charging, vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) applications, to stationary storage, solar products, software applications, cloud management tools, microgrid solutions, hydrogen fuel cells and more. GM Energy’s services will also enable the sale of energy from EV and stationary storage batteries back to utilities during peak, high energy consumption periods,...

Researched and being developed for Aviation, the Automotive implementation implications could be profound!

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Oct. 7, 2022


Over a decade ago, I was expending hours of effort each week perusing and posting about battery advancements and bio-fuel R&D developments from across the globe. With years of hope, posts, and promise, nothing has really come to fruition for the betterment of all. That may have just changed.

NASA researchers are making progress with developing an innovative battery pack that is lighter, safer, and performs better than batteries commonly used in automobiles and large electronics today.

NASA’s work is...

Initial production is set to begin in the first half of 2025 with an annual capacity of 300,000 vehicles.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Oct. 25, 2022


Oh boy is this going to be good! Hyundai officially broke ground on the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) LLC’s new manufacturing plant in Bryan County, Georgia.

The $5.54 billion investment was announced five months ago and includes plans to produce a diverse range of innovative Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia electric EVs plus a new battery manufacturing facility. HMGMA will create more than 8,100 jobs over the next few years as the company aims to establish a stable supply chain for EV battery and other EV components in the U.S. market. HMGMA’s new smart factory is...

From one rocket ship to another, “Verify go for launch!”

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Oct. 26, 2022


Cape Canaveral, FL -- Approximately 1.8-million years ago, the first human with thought gazed at the night sky and imagined what was up there. Since then, the desire to understand the space above has enticed explorers, scientists, and engineers the world over to push the envelope of understanding “what is really up there.”

In 1957, the first artificial satellite circled the earth which sparked a frenzy of engineering activity leading to a famous speech on May 25th, 1961, by the 35th President of the United States:
...

The three pointed star goes all-in on all-electrics.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Oct. 16, 2022


In January of 1886, Carl Benz filed an application in Berlin to patent his three-wheeled motor car. That day is considered the official birthday of the automobile. At the same time, Gottlieb Daimler was developing the first four-wheeled motor car. Working independently of each other, the two founded Mercedes-Benz which laid the foundation for all passenger cars, commercial vehicles and buses from that century going forward.

Mercedes-Benz was also quick to pursue alternative drive technologies. As early as 1906, Mercedes equipped its automobile lineup with battery-electric drives.

Which brings us to today… Building on well over a century of innovation,...

A well-deserved award for a ground breaking vehicle.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Oct. 20, 2022


MotorTrend announced that the Hyundai IONIQ 5 is the winner of its “Golden Calipers” for SUV of the Year. IN its release, they stated the IONIQ 5 stood out in a field of 45 all-new or significantly redesigned SUVs, 25 of which were electrified. The IONIQ 5 took the lead with its style, cohesion of details and user experience.

The IONIQ 5 won SUV of the Year by excelling in six key criteria: safety, efficiency, value, advancement in design, engineering excellence, and performance of intended function.

IONIQ 5 Highlights

• Progressive design
• Ultra-fast 800-volt multi-charging (10 to 80 percent in 18 minutes)
• Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function
• 300-mile range
• E-GMP platform...

400+ miles of range and fully loaded for $107k + TTL… Ouch! Cheaper editions are in the works.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Oct. 22, 2022


Early in 2024 - a little over a year away, GMC is readying its first-ever Sierra EV with the 2024 Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 built upon the much-discussed Ultium Platform. More affordable and utilitarian Sierra EV AT4 and Elevation trims will arrive for the 2025 MY.

And it will arrive with some of the best in the world – not just class, features including the following:

• 400 miles of all-electric range on a full charge
• 754 hp and 785 lb-ft of torque in Max Power mode: 0-60 in < 4.5 sec.
• 9,500 pounds max towing cap
• Onboard Power Station Pro mobile power source, with up to 10.2kW of off-board power
• 800 Volt DCFC capable at up to 350kW - 100 miles of range in ~ 10...

Toyota Auto Insurance is available in AZ, IL, IN, MI, OH, TN, SC, and now TX.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Oct. 19, 2022


Toyota Auto Insurance, "Toyota's" branded insurance product, is now available to citizens residing in Texas. Introduced to select markets in 2021, Toyota Auto Insurance offers customers quality, customizable coverage at affordable rates. Expanding into the Lone Star State represents a major milestone for Toyota Auto Insurance. Not only is Texas the nation’s second most populous state, it’s also home to Toyota’s North American headquarters and Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas (TMMTX).

Toyota Auto Insurance offers consumers a quick and flexible policy purchase process via Toyota’s state-of the-art mobile app, call center agents, participating Toyota dealerships...