End of the gas engine?

Ahhh, yes, now those old science classes are coming back to me. Just like heat rises and cool air falls, water does the same thing due to density changes

 

In the link to NASAs website from an earlier post, they attribute sea level decreases (or lack of increases) to global dam projects, which look like they start around the mid '50s and continue to have an affect through the mid '90s.


Then, if you look at their ocean warming graph, you can see the warming trend hasn't stopped since the late '60s.


If looking at data and throwing out a hypothesis based on that data makes me a conspiracy theorist, I guess I'm guilty as charged.

 

correlation is not causation.
But if you feel you are correct, write a research paper. Maybe you are onto something.

 

You are correct that correlation is not causation, and I stated that in previous posts. Which is why I said I was throwing out a new thought, not listing alternative facts.

I don't care enough to write a research paper - I'm lazy and it sounds like too much work. Plus, it's not like they'd be willing to blow up all the dams to save the earth - too much green energy from hydro power and water necessary for drinking and irrigation in some states.

 

So are you saying the production of Aluminum Foil is the real cause?

 

Saw a YouTube video of a guy talking about his bronco 4xe with 21 mile range.

he essentially justified that since he lives a wealthy retired lifestyle of driving around town it’s totally practical.

I also noticed he had the comments section off.

 

If that mine goes through it will pollute the entire water supply of Sebago. The area will be uninhabitable.

 

Exactly. It's all political.

 

Wait...aren't some companies trying to build electric airplanes? (I'm being sarcastic)
I actually agree with you statement.

 

i agree with @Thatbassguy , hybrid are better for city than highway in terms of fuel economy.
Wife has a hybrid sedan and on the highway the car is almost always using gas unless breaking or going downhill.
However at lower speeds, and stop/go EV takes over and it rarely runs on gas. Also every time the car slows down or brakes at traffic lights, the battery recharges. When stopped at a red light, the car is also on EV so no gas is being used. She gets 65mpg on average in the city, and 50ish highway.

If the 4R had a good hybrid system paired with our current engine, I would love it as on the 4R it’s the opposite. Stop and go gets horrible mpg and highway is not too bad (for what it is at least)
I’ve seen my mpg drop considerably just from sitting at a traffic light for too long. If it was hybrid, the EV would just be working during that time

 

Ya that all makes sense. Not sure what I was thinking that day.

 

EV's just ain't me man. We're just not there yet, regarding the power grid or the fact that the most reliable capable EV's are nowhere near affordable for the masses.

This article from yesterday is just one of many reasons I'm not sold yet on these things. Meanwhile, I know my 4R will last till I retire, and will be put to rest by my 2 boys as bush truck:

www.techradar.com/vehicle-tech/hybrid-electric-vehicles/nissan-drops-app-support-for-the-original-leaf-are-evs-now-as-disposable-as-iphones

 

Mining and processing lithium ore is excessively nasty. Far worse than coal.

 

The green agenda = steps towards enslavement as the end game

 

The days of nasty lithium extraction in the 3rd world may be coming to an end. Check out the news of lithium extraction at California’s Salton Sea.
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-11-15/drilling-for-white-gold-is-happening-right-now-at-the-salton-sea

 

I took this into consideration before I bought my new 4Runner. I wondered if buying a non-turbo V6 in 2024 was wise for the rise of EVs and the push to lower emissions. Toyota is going the 4-cylinder turbo route to meet government regulations for exhaust.

I came to the conclusion that it would be highly unlikely that ICE would be eliminated.

It took at least 25 years for ICE cars to replace horses and buggies in general; some were still in use longer, even outside of Amish country.

It is like comparing apples to oranges, but there are a lot of similarities. Massive infrastructure change was needed to make the transition to automobiles successful, and the market drove those changes.

Another factor in the H&B>Auto transition is the limited time a horse could ethically be used to pull a wagon. Today, 4Runners can be expected to be capable of transportation far longer than a typical draft horse.

Massive infrastructure changes are also needed for the ICE to EV transition. These changes not only include expanding the availability of charging stations but also address the drain on the existing power grid.

Toyota is not embracing the push to electric vehicles. They are sticking with the hybrid model, which, in my opinion, is the way to go. I test-drove the Grand Highlander Hybrid when I was checking out new cars.

The initial acceleration was so much fun with the hybrid. I was really tempted to get it!

It is certain that the 2025 4Runner will follow in the footsteps of the Taco and Tundra and be turbocharged, as most manufacturers have done. That turbo engine was a big factor in my decision to go with the 2024 4Runner.

The V6 is known to be bulletproof, and the turbo is still rather new. I thought I would let Toyota work out all the kinks in the engine, and maybe, if my 2024 needs to be refreshed in 10-20 years, I will be able to get into a 2034 or 2044 model with a proven engine.

Toyota's work with hybrid and turbo technology will ensure that the gas engine will be around for a long long time. Much longer than I will be able to still drive.

 

Yeah there are some bugs alright (not the engine necessarily though). Check this out from the 6th Gen forum.

https://www.4runners.com/threads/2024-tacoma-snapped-axle-shaft.36982/

 

It sounds like Toyota is going to take care of them, and look into the issue. Hopefully some of the bugs will get worked out before the 4Runner is even released.

 

I agree with you for the following reasons:

a. Power generation and electric grid would have to be massively upgraded to support mass EV use, the effort is comparable to the highway build-out efforts.
b. Raw material mining and refining have to be massively expanded to supply EVs batteries to meet transpiration demands.

Regardless of what politicians say, we are at least 40 years from the point where majority of cars are EVs. 2035 targets of no new ICEs will not be met anywhere, even in small rich EU countries and will get inevitably repeatedly extended.

 

The "free market" may have something to say about lithium mining in this country. Why buy locally when your government will make the price totally uncompetitive?

 

Newsom, satan's minion...

 

Agreed. The "free market" will always have its say, even when the government tries to crush it.

They can try to push regulations to restrain it, but in the long run, money talks, and it speaks loudest in politician's ears.

 

Wow here's another horror story about the Nissan Leaf.
Surprising it even made CBC News, who's in bed with Turdeau, who all force feed EV's to the public.

https://www-cbc-ca.cdn.ampproject.o...anada/ottawa/when-a-leaf-is-a-brick-1.7142342

 

The more logical, pragmatic, knowledgeable, and vetting you are, the less EV's make sense. Money to burn, gullible, susceptible to indoctrination, and love a "bargain" (taxpayer funded incentives) are common characteristics of the EV club. There's possible, and then there's practical. EV's were never a viable business case. And that will remain true until some big technological enabler occurs. This is true of all technological advancements. And of course organic vs draconian driving forces are preferred and sustainable. Not just because some enemy of the people says so.

 

We live our RAV4 Prime, day to day driving is electric. I firmly believe there is a place for electric vehicles, but Yota nailed it with the Prime trim.

 

RAV4 prime is a dream of my wife's. Happy to hear it's great for you.

One of the biggest issues with RAV4 Prime and Tesla is the price. Possible not practical is a good way to put it I like that.

 

I just don't believe that a new RAV4 Prime is going to outlast or even come close to lasting as long as a new 4Runner, but they're virtually the same price.
I said it before I'll say it again, not once in my life have I owned a battery powered device or even electronic device that has lasted as long as I've been reliably informed it's supposed to last. That's just a fact. These things degrade and deplete and turn into a paperweight. They all do. That part isn't so "green"

 

Something else to consider. With complexity comes what, reliability or opposite? Let's examine "driveability." Ever have a driveability issue, maybe even a subtle one? A vibration, hesitation, noise, or lurch? Diagnosing/fixing the issue can be hard enough when there's only one power train involved. Now add 2 power trains in series. Maybe they have trouble at the hand-off. Not enough to stop you but enough to annoy. Do you think the dealer is going to come through? Another thing is regenerative brakes. Do you think these provide the same honest feedback as hydraulic brakes? Electric power steering sure is inferior to hydraulic in terms of feel/feedback. My point is EV's have their pitfalls. It's not all cherries like the narrative would have you believe. EV's aren't magic, they're are a compromise. They have their pluses and minuses like everything else. And if you consider cradle to grave, they pollute more lol.

 

Yota has done well with the Prius, which is why I was willing to give the Prime a try. We bought it because we bought a used limited 4Runner drove it cross country and another year or so, traded it for the Rav Prime during COVID, and made thousands on the runner, and paid MSRP for the prime, which was almost impossible, let alone only certain states where getting the Rav prime, and then the government rebates made it a great deal. Thanks everyone for helping me get our Rav prime.