EV/Plug-in/Other vehicles

[irvinehomeowner]

Check out Longo Toyota if you haven't already. A little bit of a drive, but they have nearly a dozen bZ XLEs in stock at the moment and plenty of RAV4s. Bought a bZ Limited from them earlier this month and they price matched another dealer's discount in addition to the $3,500 manufacturer's rebate and 0% interest.

I'm loving my bZ so far. EV cars, given the right circumstances (e.g., owning a home with reliable charging and/or solar, non-extreme weather environment, etc.), have so many more benefits than ICE. We've still barely broken the surface for EVs too. They'll will get comparatively cheaper and better as the tech improves.

Yep. Currently not for everyone but eventually will be.

Even without solar, my fuel spend on transportation is still lower than with the pre-war gas prices.

I would add solar but incentives for that were taken away (which makes no sense considering that residential solar will help with grid stability).

 

[irvinehomeowner]

We just shopped the BZ to add to the stable, and found the same.

Then shopped one size up looking at the Toyota Woodland and Subaru Trailseeker brothers, and ended up with the Subaru version due to better discounting.

Good strategy... Subaru EVs get less demand but are the same platform as the Toyota (and Lexus) EVs.

 

[momopi]

What were her issues? Too small?

I find the BZ compares very well to the RAV4 (I regularly ride in both)... and I'm not a small guy.

The BZ made better financial sense. My 2015 ES350 is worth $12k in trade in, combined with Toyota cash inventive and 0% APR, I'd only need to plunk down around $10k cash with $20k loan & monthly payment under $300. With the cash saved I can upgrade my panel and couple outlets.

But the rear seat and cargo space is smaller, and wife has EV range anxiety if we take it on road trips.

2026 RAV4 also has TSS 4. We were originally going to replace the Sienna with newer model but the minivan will not get a refresh with updated TSS until 2028.

 

[irvinehomeowner]

But the rear seat and cargo space is smaller, and wife has EV range anxiety if we take it on road trips.

Hmm... I sat in the back seat of both and seems similar.

Range anxiety shouldn't be a thing because BZ supports NACS and Tesla chargers are EVERYWHERE (except DFW according to someone).

 

[momopi]

Good strategy... Subaru EVs get less demand but are the same platform as the Toyota (and Lexus) EVs.

Subaru also offers 0% APR financing for their EV.

 

[irvinehomeowner]

Telsa still the king EVs in the US selling about as many as the other 9 brands combined:


There is a tight race for second with Chevy/Hyundai... but if you combine the GM brands even Kia, GM is fairly ahead.

Toyota had a big jump but they now have 2 EVs with a 3rd coming later this year.

 

[Liar Loan]

I'm shopping for a used vehicle for my daughter who is heading to college next year and stumbled across the Toyota Marai. You can buy Toyota's hydrogen vehicle with only 30,000 miles on the odometer for under $10,000. The biggest drawback is there are not many places to refuel.

Toyota has a search tool map much like the Tesla charger map that allows you to find filling stations. Unfortunately, there are none within miles of the college my daughter will be attending, but if you live in the LA/OC basin there are some refueling options around. I'm wondering how the range compares to a gas vehicle?

 

[daedalus]

Google says ~400 miles per tank.
I remember last year they had an absolutely amazing deal on those...a floor-clearing initiative, losses be damned. I looked into it just because I love a good deal, and the closest refueling station to me was a couple towns over. I drive maybe 800 miles a year in my DD. I hated the idea of having to drive so much farther to refuel than my usual commute, plus what if that ONE LH2 station closed? Anyone who picked one up with that deal is doing pretty good selling it for $10k today.

The Historic 2025 Discount Breakdown
During the peak of this promotion, Toyota slashed prices on the 2024 Mirai by offering up to $43,000 in Finance Subvention Cash: [1, 2, 3]

• Mirai XLE: Original MSRP of $50,190 dropped by $35,000, bringing the final sticker price to just $15,190.
• Mirai Limited: Original MSRP of $67,115 dropped by $43,000, bringing the final price to $24,115. [1]

The Hidden Perks
These historic cuts also included staggering additional incentives: [1, 2]

• Free Hydrogen Fuel: Buyers received a complimentary $15,000 hydrogen fuel card.
• 0% Financing: Zero-percent APR was available for up to 72 months on select models. [1, 2, 3]

 

[irvinehomeowner]

I would be careful with hydro cars. If you feel the EV public chargers are not sufficient, it’s worse with H2. Not only are there not many stations but they are often not functional (as Daedalus mentioned).

Yes they are cheap but there is a reason. The Mirai is a great vehicle otherwise (it’s basically an EV with a different fuel source).

Used EVs are cheap and if it’s just a local commuter, even 150-200mi range is good enough. The only hiccup is if she is using it to drive home for visits (and it’s beyond that range) and would then need to plan a convenient charge route

 

[Liar Loan]

I would be careful with hydro cars. If you feel the EV public chargers are not sufficient, it’s worse with H2. Not only are there not many stations but they are often not functional (as Daedalus mentioned).

Yes they are cheap but there is a reason. The Mirai is a great vehicle otherwise (it’s basically an EV with a different fuel source).

Used EVs are cheap and if it’s just a local commuter, even 150-200mi range is good enough. The only hiccup is if she is using it to drive home for visits (and it’s beyond that range) and would then need to plan a convenient charge route

How does one charge an EV on a college campus? I don't remember that being included in the housing plan.

I am looking at maybe a hybrid Toyota - Prius, Corolla, or Camry. Low cost of ownership, high MPG, and good safety ratings.