It would almost certainly be a negative ROI. 50-65mpg is rounding error in gasoline cost thanks to how mpg calculations actually work (terrible way to show efficiency). The added battery would cost a fortune, take a ton of space, and weigh too much.

“Bump up the batteries a bit to compensate...” let’s see, a ~80-horsepower 1.2 3-cylinder (what you’d find in a Mitsu Mirage) vs. a Toyota 170-horsepower M20A-FXS four-cylinder. And you want to cover the gap with battery? That kind of misses the whole point of a series hybrid, which is to boost low-speed torque and…

I understand your enthusiasm but from a business stand point holding the same outstanding fuel economy while providing more power opens this up to many more buyers.

Real world ROI for customer to jump from current to 65+ is minimal.

The increased all electric and more power overall actually make this vehicle a…

I was worried that Toyota wouldn’t be able to keep the Prius relevant in a world where virtually everything they make either has a hybrid option or only comes in a hybrid. The Corolla Hybrid, in particular, poses a threat because it’s a compact-class sedan with more-conventional styling and a cheaper price tag. I was…

Admittedly, the Prettiest Prius ever is a very low bar, but yeah, I actually dig the looks of this thing.

That’s where credit steps in, my friend! Don’t think about the fact that the average car was like $3500 in 1970, and the average American salary was $9500, while today the average car is $46k and the average salary is $54k (ie. we have 1/3 the buying power relative to cars than we did in 1970). Just put yourself in…

which is why only 20% of cars under 50K are new. Most people can not afford a new car. Then the number of those that are in a family of 4 and need 2 cars makes it even more of a reach. 

I do not think I am. Most new car prices are out of many many peoples reach. The average car price almost equals the average salary (with a high standard deviation dominated by low end.) For most people, 30K is either out of reach or a probable catalyst for financial issues . I just though ”just about everyone” was an…

Which is still inaccessible if you do not have the money.

Almost $30,000 but “just about everyone can own.” You can’t be that out of touch with the financial state of a lot of people. 

“Then you have to code for a plane landing on the highway in funeral traffic as it begins to rain ... and the plane gets hit by a train.” This is fantastic, are you a comedy writer? Anyway you are absolutely correct. 

First you have to code for traffic.

Comments about needing better infrastructure (lines, edges, etc.) are simultaneously correct - and yet laughable. They fail to understand the massive number of lane miles out there, most of it in rural (and very rural) locations. What is the magnitude of cost in putting down stark and clear lane markers in these…

Crossovers are just Tall Cars.

4th Gear: absolutely right. Over-throw the government, deny reality? Get rewarded with a majority.

We are adding a second vehicle to our house, and we want an EV mid-size SUV.

I’m happy to see the rest of the populace turn on Musk, and eventually make Tesla patently uncool. 

First gear: I don’t believe a single word that comes out of that dude’s mouth. Musk is a perfect example of why CEOs need to keep their mouths shut when it comes to anything other than legitimate business discussions. He is the primary reason I will never buy a Tesla.

Fourth gear:
Too little, too late. People have…

Ah yes, my great grandpappy said the same thing - his whale oil lamp industry tanked the same day James Garfield was sworn into office. Could not have been a coincidence...

Don’t do this and stop advertising this, Lifehacker. By using this exploit you’re only encouraging publishers to stop supporting regional pricing and hurting people from developing countries (like mine) that can’t pay the standard US price.