What Drives Us episode

#375 Gouged In The iX3

18 Jul , 2020   Video

00:00 Intros

02:40 Nissan Announces the Ariya EV and Abandons CHADeMo

17:00 Dealers Mark up RAV4 Prime up to $10,000

25:30 SCE Spending $350M on Infrastructure

29:30 New BMW iX3 EV

46:00 Polestar 2 Review: It’s Nice!

52:55 VW’s Top Software Guy is Out

57:50 Shout outs and Go Home

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What Drives Us episode

#374 The Fast and the Dead

11 Jul , 2020   Video

00:00 Intros 04:10 Ford Mach-e Battery Reporting

12:45 Dodge Hellcat SUV

17:50 Pandemic Brings Fewer Crashes but More Fatalities

25:25 Suzuki Across PHEV is the RAV4 Prime

31:10 Moving Forward Act moves to the Senate

38:00 Solar-Powered Level-2 Charging Station

42:45 Muni Cutting Bus Routes

55:55 Let’s Go Home

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What Drives Us episode

#373 Body Bags are Extra

2 Jul , 2020   Video

  1. American Airlines has started filling their planes to capacity during a pandemic.
  2. Toyota is severely limiting the supply of the RAV4 Prime for some reason.
  3. California is mandating that all commercial trucks be fully-electric by 2045.
  4. 2-sided solar panels that track the sun can increase energy production up to 30%.
  5. Minnesota is suing ExxonMobile and Koch Brothers for damages caused by their disregard of their own research.
  6. All Americans need to support the “Moving Forward” act.
  7. Hyundai has introduced an all-electric shuttle bus.
  8. Oslo is testing inductive charging for taxis.
  9. Electrify American has completed their first cross-country charging network.

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What Drives Us episode

#370 AutoStupid

11 Jun , 2020   Video

  1. As though Sequester in Place wasn’t harming locally owned business enough, riots across the globe have indiscriminately crippled or fully shuttered small businesses. Please support your local businesses.
  2. A study (with a very small sample size using self-reporting) found that drivers with autonomous features tend to be less attentive and perform actions unrelated to driving.
  3. The Ford Escape Plug-in is expected to get 37 miles per charge before the ICE kicks in. It is expected to have a base MSRP of $5,000USD lower than the RAV4 Prime but, due to its smaller battery, will not qualify for higher incentived.
  4. Hyundai has reached a point where they are making great strides in market share for their EVs. Could this be their tipping point? Will we see even more Hyundai/Kia EVs and perhaps even a Genesis EV?
  5. Even with the drop in carbon emissions as a result of Sequester in Place, all major car manufacturers are expected to miss the Paris Agreement targets for emissions. As the targets and deadlines slip by, maintaining a habitable environment gets harder and harder.

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What Drives Us episode

# 369 2020 is Going to Kill Us All!

3 Jun , 2020   Video

  1. Please make the world a better place. Join a sit in if that’s your thing. If you’re more of an introvert, make sure you do your research and vote. Get your friends and family to vote. Change the world. It’s the least you can do.
  2. Russell spends – literally – a few seconds teasing about his upcoming Toyota Supra review.
  3. There are dealers in the US right now selling Jaguar I-Pace for up to $21,000 USD under MSRP! Seriously consider picking one up.
  4. Toyota announced RAV4 Prime pricing and – all things considered – you can get a RAV4 Prime for less then a RAV4 Hybrid.
  5. Bicycles are better for you and the community. Go Ride a Bike!

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audio only,Chicago Auto Show,What Drives Us episode

#353 AWD and the Chicago Auto Show

13 Feb , 2020   Video

1) Russell has just returned from a Toyota event in which he was driving their brand new AWD systems they are introducing in their sedans.

2) Tony and Jon B spent two days at the Chicago Auto Show and provide their impressions of what they saw.

3) Jon B provides speculative insights as to what the upcoming RAV4 Prime might reveal about possible changes coming to the Prius Prime.

4) Jaguar is having to temporarily stop production of the I-Pace due to a battery shortage.

5) Why is it extremely possible that ICE vehicles are not going away anytime soon?

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What Drives Us episode

#349 Whose Data is it, Anyway?

16 Jan , 2020   Video

In this week’s show:

1) The current NTSB requirements for black box data is woefully short of all the data required to determine the actual situation of a modern-day crash. Manufacturers are not required to hand over additional data. Should owners be able to pull the data themselves to turn over to the police? Should they be able to pull data from a used car prior to purchasing it?

2) Tesla’s stock has soared recently to the point that the company is now valuated higher than GM and Ford, combined! It doesn’t help that Ford and GM have seen their own valuations dropping in the recent months.

3) The Boring Company’s 0.8 mile tunnel is completed under Las Vegas between convention centers. It’s likely not going to reach 140mph like previously advertised, it might use skates to move cars or not. Details are few and far between.

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What Drives Us episode

#348 Dieselgate Saves VW

14 Jan , 2020   Video

This week:
1) States face roadblocks on path to lower tailpipe emissions.
2) BMW remains committed to ICE cars for at least 30 more years.
3) The Prius is no longer Toyota’s top-selling hybrid.
4) Sony shocks CES by unveiling a car.
5) The Fisker Ocean might actually be areal thing.
6) Tesla’s Gigafactory 4 has to tread lightly in the forest.

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Review

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid – Ride-along Review

3 Jan , 2020   Video

Totally redesigned in 2019, the RAV4 feels as familiar as ever. Toyota’s hybrid system delivers seamless hybrid functionality and absolutely stellar miles per gallon. If you’re looking for an affordable SUV that can comfortably seat four, lug a bunch of stuff, and save gas money, the RAV4 Hybrid is your reliable option.

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Review

RAV4 Hybrid – Walk-around Review

3 Jan , 2020   Video

Totally redesigned in 2019, the RAV4 feels as familiar as ever. Toyota’s hybrid system delivers seamless hybrid functionality and absolutely stellar miles per gallon. If you’re looking for an affordable SUV that can comfortably seat four, lug a bunch of stuff, and save gas money, the RAV4 Hybrid is your reliable option.

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