[455Grandville]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

In fairness, most of the start/stop systems do not use a traditional starter. Some, like GM, use essentially a giant starter/generator. We would refer to it as a giant alternator. When called on to start, it becomes a starter and turns the engine through a very large and extra strong serpentine belt. Another common system is to have a motor winding built into the flywheel area, IE Toyota, and this energizes and spins the crankshaft to start. These parts of the system have been pretty robust but very expensive if service is actually needed. The big advantage is no grinding of starter teeth during the thousands and thousands of starts at every stoplight. Tough on batteries though. The small power electronics battery in a Prius is a three year item if your real lucky. The big batteries have been very long lived.

I’m not familiar with the Toyota’s as I don’t own one but our company has Chrysler minivan and it’s not smooth when it restarts; in anything it seems slow to restart and sounded like a starter.
I’d agree the Toyota might be robust but I wouldnt bet on the Chrysler; seems the repair cost will eat the fuel saving easily and then some when the time comes.
I just don’t like a vehicle that shuts down in traffic only to restart 2 seconds later.

Originally Posted by hobbygto65

If you got 170 grand you can buy a new Lucid Air, epa rated 520 miles on a charge.

Originally Posted by 455dan

TFL truck just tested the Rivian R1T on the IKE Gauntlet mountain towing test.
Had to re-charge for sure.
Without a "whole" lot of KWH battery storage, towing with trucks on anything but level ground will be a nerve wracking drive.

LCID & RIVN are down now good time to buy into them but as far as towing I wouldn’t want a RIVN to go venture out in remote spots especially where a plug in isn’t around.
Ford is building a new plant for electric trucks but they might be putting themselves in a dangerous financial hole.