For the love of cars
For the love of cars
If you’re looking for an affordable new EV, you might be better off checking your local Ford dealer rather than jumping on a Tesla. Other automakers have hesitated to go up against the EV giant, but Ford is rolling the dice and banking on a high score. Tesla recently cut prices on its popular Model Y and Model 3 EV units, but Ford is doing the same with price cuts on the popular Mustang Mach-E, and more are coming. Read More
One of the best ways for executives to show brand loyalty is to use their company’s products. GM CFO Paul Jacobson has two cool GM products in his divided garage.
Almost every automotive company in the world is considering making an EV to rival the likes of Tesla, but Toyota, arguably the most successful car company in the world, isn’t too quick to jump on the bandwagon.
There is a reason you don’t see fully electric vehicles at Toyota Dealerships. While Toyota does well in the hybrid car market, they haven’t yet participated in the worldwide movement that is EVs. Companies such as Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, and Hyundai, for starters, are throwing themselves into making EVs like there is no tomorrow. While this seems like a noble pursuit, with EVs being better for the environment and all, there is a major flaw that not everyone is talking about. Data from Toyota has uncovered that EVs are not as good for the environment as we thought they would be. In fact, in the long run, they could cause big problems if gone unchecked, which, right now, they are.
Toyota makes some of the most impressive and reliable cars on the planet. They’ve been around for a long time and they don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon. Let’s hope their newfound data is just as trustworthy.
Toyota’s chief scientist, Gill Pratt has a lot to say about EVs. While it’s fun and all to make EVs willy-nilly, Gill Pratt thinks automakers should be diversifying their energy sources, rather than all using the same kind. For starters, companies should still be trying to utilize hybrid and hydrogen energy sources.
In the long haul, batteries, particularly ones made from lithium, won’t last us forever. In fact, they might be worse for the environment than traditional combustion engines! Pratt claims that there will likely be a shortage of batteries, due to a shortage of lithium, paired with the lack of charging stations in America, which will make EV production a challenge for both companies and consumers.
Pratt also states that making so many lithium batteries for these EVs will cause more CO2 output than regular production already does. These are the things consumers don’t know.
Toyota does have plans to make an EV, though. It’s been announced that Toyota will release a sedan-sized EV for the Chinese automotive market. This car is unlikely to reach global appeal, and Toyota seems fine with that, anyways. While they are in the works for an EV, Toyota doesn’t seem too interested in making one for the world.
Toyota wants to hold out, see what happens, and then decide what they will do. As a seasoned company in the global automotive market, Toyota isn’t too hurried or desperate. Will there ever be a fully electric vehicle in American Toyota dealerships? Maybe in the future, but right now Toyota wants to stick to its guns, which is making reliable cars and trusting its process. You can still find hybrids made by Toyota, but you’ll have to wait for an EV.
There’s no reason for BMW not to show confidence in the electric vehicle market. This is the brand that brought us the venerable i8 and interesting i3 models.
One of the most hotly anticipated reveals heading to the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show is the new Ram 1500 REV which is also a controversial new truck.
The older a model gets, the harder it is to get replacement parts or find a mechanic who knows how to work on a ‘98 Chevy truck. But now we’re seeing the same thing with cars made this year!
What’s changed? The technology and equipment that goes into today’s vehicles require more specialization and knowledge than a mechanic has, that’s what.
Most mechanics know cars, not computers. But EVs, increased advanced technology, and how features are integrated into a car’s system make it impossible to continue being an old-fashioned mechanic.
If things stay the way they are now in the car repair business, drivers might have to get an extended warranty from places like Toyota and Ford to get guaranteed service.
Many automotive manufacturers use unique systems or have specific equipment for creating their vehicles – such as Tesla models or the newest Ford Super Duty trucks. While it’s not a trade secret, it’s also not well-known what goes into making and maintaining technologically-advanced vehicles.
Mechanics will need the same equipment and systems to perform maintenance and repairs on those cars. They also need certifications, special training, and continued education to meet rapidly-changing vehicle needs.
Not only is this costly for businesses, but it isn’t likely to happen – mechanics would have to learn the special methods and equipment for working on one model of car or all of them at once, and neither is a sustainable way to run a mechanic’s service. What if the only person who can perform a Toyota’s extended warranty service is out sick for a week?
As local shops are forced to specialize, limit what they can do, or sell their shops to franchise owners, drivers will find their options limited and prices for service going up.
Parts and equipment, as well as a properly-trained mechanic’s time, will cost more, services and repairs will take longer, and the old neighborhood mechanic may not be around much longer. Getting your car back from the shop could take days instead of hours.
But does that mean all hope for the future is lost already? Not necessarily.
Mechanics are already working toward bridging the knowledge gap in service – computer science majors and tech-savvy car fanatics are joining repair shops as their expertise becomes relevant. Automakers and dealerships are offering in-house repairs and maintenance options.
Drivers are also finding ways to make it easier on themselves – they’re looking into Ford and Toyota extended warranty options, which cover the cost of everything from engines to steering wheels for years.
The auto repair industry is seeing a lot of problems right now, but it’s also seeing a lot of growth and change. Now it’s just a matter of seeing where it takes us.
When you want a family-sized luxury SUV that uses electricity, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV should be on your shortlist of SUVs to drive.
Should more motorcycles offer an electric powertrain? These bikes can easily give riders desired excitement while running on a battery-powered motor.
Whether it’s your first time or the hundredth time when test driving an EV, the experience is different from a traditional vehicle.
Good news for people interested in the Chevy Bolt – GM has decided to continue the multi-thousand dollar discount for purchasing the Bolt EV and EUV through the end of 2022 instead of just August.
But while this may seem like great news, there’s more happening here. From recalls at Chevrolet dealer locations to tax credit changes, there’s a lot to talk about with the Chevy Bolt and its discount.
People keeping up with the latest from General Motors may remember that the company had to recall every Chevy Bolt made between 2019 and 2022. Reports said it was due to battery fires caused by defects in LG’s manufacturing of the batteries.
While GM acted swiftly by removing even brand new Bolts on the lots of Chevrolet dealers and communicating with anyone who’d purchased affected vehicles, this still left many customers unhappy and tanked the reputation of the Chevy Bolt.
Even though the situation has been resolved, GM may have decided to sell the rest of the available 2022 Bolt and Bolt EUVs at a reduced price to smooth things over for customers.
So what is the big discount the Chevy Bolt is getting? Just under $6,000 for the Bolt and close to $6,500 for the EUV. This means a base model Bolt would cost $26,000 new, while the baseline Bolt EUV is $28,000. This includes the $1,000 destination fee for delivering the vehicle to a Chevrolet dealer near you.
This discount makes the Chevy Bolt the most affordable EV currently on the market. The new price beats out EVs from manufacturers like Nissan, which used to be known for their affordability.
It’s only guaranteed until December 31st, 2022, so buyers must act quickly to take advantage of the new affordable pricing.
But that leaves the question of what will happen to the Bolt after this promotional incentive ends.
GM, like Tesla, no longer has the EV tax credit to fall back on to provide incentives for consumers to transition to electric vehicles without paying more out of pocket or reducing manufacturer profit. A new Inflation Reduction Act may help create a new EV-specific credit, but there’s no guarantee that it’s coming any time soon.
This means that the Chevy Bolt’s bad reputation and lack of incentives may hurt its chances of survival in 2023 and beyond. It may be discontinued like the Volt. Or maybe it will survive as a less-desirable EV option.
Either way, it’s important to remember that if you want a Chevy Bolt, this is the best time to get one. They’ve been heavily inspected and repaired after the battery issues they faced, and the current discount available shaves thousands of dollars off the sale price.
Now may be the only good time to head down to your local Chevrolet dealer and find out what you can do to get an affordable Chevy Bolt or Bolt EUV.