Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: oaktown
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Yeah that bus needs to get made. I think at this point what they're showing is pretty close to what they'll ship, and given the big flat floor I expect it will pack some serious range. If they can use their economics of scale to get the prices within reason ($35,000 for the bus? I think I read that they said they could build the hatch for golf money?) then they may usher in a tipping point. Things are going to get very interesting over the next couple of years.
That which doesn't kill you weakens you slightly and makes you less able to cope until you're completely incapacitated |
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¡Damned!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Purgatory
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Really hoping for a pop-top option (though I don't think it will happen). I miss my old '78 Westfalia every single day. Camping was so effortless and cozy.
Speaking of, Rivian put out an interesting/weird thing recently with their pickup-truck: a camper version with slide-out kitchen. It's probably ludicrously expensive for an accessory, but I love the whole modular concept of being able to swap out doodads like that. So it goes. |
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Formerly Roboman, still
awesome Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Portland, OR
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Have you seen the TJ Cruiser concept? I love the combination of a smallish size with a boxy shape and a big flat load floor.
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¡Damned!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Purgatory
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No I hadn't – the front end reminds me of a VW Safari (Thing), which I love. I'm really drawn to the boxy, no-nonsense utilitarian look like that.
So it goes. |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Promise Land of Trustafarians
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Time to say goodbye to my 2010 Honda Fit and hello to my 2021 Subaru Crosstrek.
Subaru finally replaced the Crosstrek's hamster wheel with a proper engine. 182hp isn't going to win any races but it's enough that I won't get passed by semitrucks climbing up 70 anymore. I went for the nearly-fully-loaded top trim. Basically everything except the sunroof and nav. Black leather interior with orange accent stitching—I'm a sucker for orange. I've got Monday off next week, gonna head into the mountains for a long weekend, maybe take it for a spin offroad. My Fit still has tons of life left in it, I *just* hit 50k miles last week, but I wanted something with just a *little* more power, a nice interior and a little offroad capability. Not looking for any kind of rock crawler but I think I've pushed my luck as far as I can when it comes to taking my Fit down roads I shouldn't. |
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BANNED
I am worthless beyond hope. Join Date: Dec 2005
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Had a cross trek a few years ago. Loved it. It’s gotten better since.
I wish Subaru had embraced EVs. They are going to suffer significantly in 5-7 years. |
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Which way is up?
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
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Subaru and Toyota share a lot of patents, engineering, and design tech, so they may not be as far behind as you might think. Then again, they may not care.
- AppleNova is the best Mac-users forum on the internet. We are smart, educated, capable, and helpful. We are also loaded with smart-alecks! :) - Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Mat 5:9) |
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Lord of the Rant.
Formerly turtle2472 Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Upstate South Carolina
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Is a plug-in hybrid a vehicle that has a gas motor to drive or generate electricity where the vehicle can run only on electricity if it gets plugged in and charged?
This seems like a great way to extend milage if you can run a generator on gas for times when electricity is hard. I've been watching Long Way Up and seeing those guys struggle to charge motorcycles is what really got me thinking about that. Sure an all electric car is great if you have a charger at home and don't go far from there. Louis L'Amour, “To make democracy work, we must be a nation of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain.” Visit our archived Minecraft world! | Maybe someday I'll proof read, until then deal with it. |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Promise Land of Trustafarians
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Subaru released a plug-in hybrid variant of the Crosstrek last year but oddly has not released a 2021 update. They also never sold it in Colorado for some reason.
Plus the place I rent doesn't have any way for me to plug it in anyways. |
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BANNED
I am worthless beyond hope. Join Date: Dec 2005
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Subaru had a hybrid of the cross trek a few years ago as well, it was neon green and it was a fake hybrid, basically improved MPG by 5-10%. Toyota and Subaru have been riding their success of the 2000s for several years now and going for short term gains. Love Subaru, still own an outback, but they are seemingly way behind on the EV transition, even more so than every other manufacturer. |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Promise Land of Trustafarians
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https://www.subaru.com/vehicles/crosstrek/hybrid.html It comes in blue and gets 90MPG. |
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Lord of the Rant.
Formerly turtle2472 Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Upstate South Carolina
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You know, that isn't the kind of hybrid I would want. I want an electric car with a gasoline generator. It shouldn't power the wheels at all. I'm guessing that isn't an option though. Maybe the generator would have to be too large to actually power the drive train.
Ryan, I have to say that looks like a cool car for you though. Reading your other threads about getting out there in the real world, this is a great vehicle to do that and drive around town too. Louis L'Amour, “To make democracy work, we must be a nation of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain.” Visit our archived Minecraft world! | Maybe someday I'll proof read, until then deal with it. |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Promise Land of Trustafarians
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Thanks! I've got Monday off so I'm gonna take it up into the mountains for a long weekend and see how it does on some off-road trails.
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BANNED
I am worthless beyond hope. Join Date: Dec 2005
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for "up to 17 miles"...... I was referring to the 2014 Crosstrek Hybrid anyway. |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Promise Land of Trustafarians
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I have Monday off so I'm up in Breckenridge for a long weekend of photography and taking this new car up some mountain roads. Took it up Boreas Pass over the continental divide this morning then out to McCullough Gulch south of Breck—the first was an easy road, the second required 4wd/clearance. Very excited about the possibilities this car opens up for me.
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BANNED
I am worthless beyond hope. Join Date: Dec 2005
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Promise Land of Trustafarians
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I wish autumn in Colorado lasted longer than 72 hours. |
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BANNED
I am worthless beyond hope. Join Date: Dec 2005
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
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A flat out electric vehicle with a cogenerator is a serial hybrid. Generator charges battery, battery drives car. Simpler. Also, because you can have the ICE run at a fixed RPM optimized for its efficiency and longevity, it ends up being vastly simplified, and more robust. The ICE never drives the car, so it doesn't have to have a lot of oomph, it just has to create juice, constantly, regardless of what the EV is doing, until the battery is full. If you're draining the battery faster than it can charge *who cares*? It's extending your range as you go. If it's charging faster than you're using, yay, you're getting towards 100%. There's no downside. Dream setup: An EV with a drop-in/removable cogenerator package. Small motor, fuel tank, in one more or less sealed unit that can dropped into place (electrical connections, cooling, and air/exhaust vents mate up on insertion), or removed to save weight and gain cargo space. Make it under 200#, packaged with proper handles, and it's liftable by two adults. Open the frunk, slide it in, and voila. Range extension for long trips. Running around town and need more groceries space, or just want your car to use less juice? Open frunk, pull it out. A rotary engine is actually well suited for this application - fixed RPM, simple design. Sell the base car for less, cogenerator as an add-on for folks who want it. |
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meh
Join Date: May 2004
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It would have a 50 mile electric only range and then once that was used up, a gas generator would turn on to operate in the serial hybrid config kick described above for another 300 miles or so with its 9 gallons gas tank. So if you never drove more than 50 miles a day, you could never need the gas generator as you would be plugging back in every day. But have it in case you want to do a road trip. I am always surprised GM never made a crossover with the Volt's technology, but guess they decided to go straight to the Bolt and chose against serial hybrids. giggity |
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Lord of the Rant.
Formerly turtle2472 Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Upstate South Carolina
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Thanks for the explanation on this. I don't get why it isn't a more prevalent option. It just makes more sense if you want gas as a backup for a plugin electric car.
Louis L'Amour, “To make democracy work, we must be a nation of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain.” Visit our archived Minecraft world! | Maybe someday I'll proof read, until then deal with it. |
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BANNED
I am worthless beyond hope. Join Date: Dec 2005
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Because the use cases for that are diminishing rapidly. With ranges over 300 miles, and high speed charging network rapidly expanding, it's not worth it.
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Lord of the Rant.
Formerly turtle2472 Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Upstate South Carolina
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You know, I used to think like that when I lived in Virginia Beach. Now that I'm in the sticks I have to disagree with you. Sure we aren't going to be mass market just based on population density, but I can assure you there is a need for this kind of option. I'm guessing the bean counters will never let it happen though.
Louis L'Amour, “To make democracy work, we must be a nation of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain.” Visit our archived Minecraft world! | Maybe someday I'll proof read, until then deal with it. |
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BANNED
I am worthless beyond hope. Join Date: Dec 2005
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Veteran Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
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Seen a man standin' over a dead dog lyin' by the highway in a ditch He's lookin' down kinda puzzled pokin' that dog with a stick |
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Which way is up?
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
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Sneaky Punk
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You’d run out of batteries before you made it off road.
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Which way is up?
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
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350+ mile range. 200Kw batter. Which is a whole pile of holy cow!
Still not sold on these things for any kind of off-road/trailer-pulling use, but it at least looks like a truck! - AppleNova is the best Mac-users forum on the internet. We are smart, educated, capable, and helpful. We are also loaded with smart-alecks! :) - Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Mat 5:9) |
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Sneaky Punk
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As long as it’s not driven by the dumb guys that hang metal genitals off the tow hitch (like the gas version), I guess it’s okay.
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BANNED
I am worthless beyond hope. Join Date: Dec 2005
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