A strange and different world (part 4)
What's more, one of these persons, Mrs. Lauzon, was sold a rustproof coating by her dealer, as she wanted to keep her car a long time. But this car was built out of aluminum, and Toyota already treats these cars against rust at the factory, which means that not only do they not suggest the owners to do it themselves, but in fact, they say not to do it!
After having learned this from Mrs. Boissonnault, another owner, Mrs. Lauzon, took the time to call Toyota Canada to confirm the information. What she heard was true. She is now waiting for news from Toyota Canada. We'll keep you posted on developments.
On the other hand, Mrs. Boissonnault was told by her dealer that she didn't need a block heater for her car. In that case, why did Toyota build one for this car? I then told her that not only does a block heater help a car start more readily, but it also ensures better durability of the engine by reducing friction caused by the frozen oil in severe cold weather, AND it also significantly reduces pollution a cold engine emits, as it is precisely at that moment that a car will pollute the most.
So, not only does it help a car start, but it increases the durability of the car and makes it pollute much less. The only negative factor related to a block heater is the fact that as you only need to plug it in for an hour before using the vehicle, many people will plug it in for the whole night. So, what I suggest is to connect it to a timer so as not to waste energy.
Recently, I had a chat with Charles Côté, the very competent environmental reporter of La Presse. During that meeting, I explained that some people were deceived by the official numbers related to fuel consumption in regards to the hybrid vehicles, because they were not used to drive these cars in an efficient manner. I then took the time to give him a few tips how to drive in that particular way, and when he took the wheel, he ended up outdoing the numbers himself! And that after the shortest of briefings...
Now I have several questions for the car manufacturers.
I heard that the reason no European cars are equipped with hybrid systems is because they (the manufacturers) prefer to encourage diesel propulsion, as they are more familiar with that than the Japanese, although it pollutes more. Is this true?
I remember going to a traveling BMW presentation showcased around the world. They were extolling their environmental efforts by displaying hydrogen powered BMWs. After taking the tour, I asked one of their representatives: "When do you intend to commercialize these hybrid vehicles?" (Because they were in fact powered by hydrogen AND gas). He answered: "10 to 15 years". "10 to 15 years! How can you justify that when, as we speak, the Japanese have them on the market? What are you going to do between now and then?" He didn't seem too happy with my remark...
The reality is that the Japanese manufacturers, for reasons that have less to do with virtue than population density and the pollution it generates, are now at the forefront of clean vehicle technology.
I remember a conversation I had with a cousin of mine who was then project manager for the development of alternative modes of propulsion in a big U.S. car company. He told me that budgets linked to the development of hybrid technologies were drastically cut three and a half years ago. Now guess what happened a little more than three and a half years ago?
It seemed illogical. In a context of rising ecological considerations, how can a company justify going in the opposite direction? In fact, the answer, as he said to me, is simple. As there wasn't much demand for such vehicles, there was no point in pushing this type of technology. Except that I couldn't help but answer that you can infuse demand if you want to be a leader. It wouldn't be the first time that demand would be generated by advertising. More often than not, it is for things we don't need. It's called creating a need where none exists. For example, cell phones that take pictures. Now there's something the world was really waiting for...
What's more, one of these persons, Mrs. Lauzon, was sold a rustproof coating by her dealer, as she wanted to keep her car a long time. But this car was built out of aluminum, and Toyota already treats these cars against rust at the factory, which means that not only do they not suggest the owners to do it themselves, but in fact, they say not to do it!
After having learned this from Mrs. Boissonnault, another owner, Mrs. Lauzon, took the time to call Toyota Canada to confirm the information. What she heard was true. She is now waiting for news from Toyota Canada. We'll keep you posted on developments.
On the other hand, Mrs. Boissonnault was told by her dealer that she didn't need a block heater for her car. In that case, why did Toyota build one for this car? I then told her that not only does a block heater help a car start more readily, but it also ensures better durability of the engine by reducing friction caused by the frozen oil in severe cold weather, AND it also significantly reduces pollution a cold engine emits, as it is precisely at that moment that a car will pollute the most.
So, not only does it help a car start, but it increases the durability of the car and makes it pollute much less. The only negative factor related to a block heater is the fact that as you only need to plug it in for an hour before using the vehicle, many people will plug it in for the whole night. So, what I suggest is to connect it to a timer so as not to waste energy.
Recently, I had a chat with Charles Côté, the very competent environmental reporter of La Presse. During that meeting, I explained that some people were deceived by the official numbers related to fuel consumption in regards to the hybrid vehicles, because they were not used to drive these cars in an efficient manner. I then took the time to give him a few tips how to drive in that particular way, and when he took the wheel, he ended up outdoing the numbers himself! And that after the shortest of briefings...
Now I have several questions for the car manufacturers.
I heard that the reason no European cars are equipped with hybrid systems is because they (the manufacturers) prefer to encourage diesel propulsion, as they are more familiar with that than the Japanese, although it pollutes more. Is this true?
I remember going to a traveling BMW presentation showcased around the world. They were extolling their environmental efforts by displaying hydrogen powered BMWs. After taking the tour, I asked one of their representatives: "When do you intend to commercialize these hybrid vehicles?" (Because they were in fact powered by hydrogen AND gas). He answered: "10 to 15 years". "10 to 15 years! How can you justify that when, as we speak, the Japanese have them on the market? What are you going to do between now and then?" He didn't seem too happy with my remark...
The reality is that the Japanese manufacturers, for reasons that have less to do with virtue than population density and the pollution it generates, are now at the forefront of clean vehicle technology.
I remember a conversation I had with a cousin of mine who was then project manager for the development of alternative modes of propulsion in a big U.S. car company. He told me that budgets linked to the development of hybrid technologies were drastically cut three and a half years ago. Now guess what happened a little more than three and a half years ago?
It seemed illogical. In a context of rising ecological considerations, how can a company justify going in the opposite direction? In fact, the answer, as he said to me, is simple. As there wasn't much demand for such vehicles, there was no point in pushing this type of technology. Except that I couldn't help but answer that you can infuse demand if you want to be a leader. It wouldn't be the first time that demand would be generated by advertising. More often than not, it is for things we don't need. It's called creating a need where none exists. For example, cell phones that take pictures. Now there's something the world was really waiting for...