09.29.23
Just seen the new Toyota Prius for the first time.
IMO, it is a very nice design, actually a stunning looker.
Unfortunately it is a Plug-in Hybrid, only has 13.6 kWh, 44 Mile range on battery only.
Imagine this car by Toyota with a x5 size bigger battery, 68 kWh and 250-300 mile range. Such a waste.
Prius Prices are $27.5k-$34.5k. If added additional 55 kWh at estimated battery pricing of $115-$150 per kWh or lower if used LFP batteries.
As reported by BloomberNEF.
It could add $6k-$8.5k to cost, which could be a $33.5k - $36k per a BEV Prius start price, possibly still profitable for Toyota.
Not even including the savings from removing Exhaust, Transmission, Engine and other ICE related accessories.
The Advantage the Prius has for converting to full BEV, is that the car is already equipped with all components for BEV full operation... Motor, Battery, Electric related accessories, Inverter and more, it only needs to Expand the battery and remove ICE components.
Possibly required slightly upgrading components. Obviously it is not that simple, but it could get there if Toyota started now.
The Toyota BZ4X BEV is a 73 kWh battery, 252 mile range, and starts at $42k.
Toyota sold in the US in H1, 2023...
1.04m total cars.
270k total xEV cars (HEV, BEV, FCEV, PHEV):
4.8k BEV, 0.5%.
16k PHEV, 1.5%.
1.7k FCEV, 0.2%.
250k HEV, non plug-in Hybrids, 24%.
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