Report from New York City Prius Connection

Thursday night in New York. A clear, windy and extremely cold night. After driving the three hours from Lancaster to NYC I was glad to see a friendly valet take my Prius and welcome me into the Skylight Gallery.

While the layout in New York was different all the components were the same. The same three Prii that we saw in Detroit (Michelle V. of Prius Chat compared the VIN numbers). It was nice to have some more time with the car to sit in it, check out the controls and ponder which 2010 should be sitting in front of POG-HQ in May.

Mea Culpa

While I was there I had the pleasure, yes, genuine pleasure to meet someone who makes a lot of appearances here on the POG, no less than Jerry Flint of Forbes Magazine (picture below). While I disagree with Mr. Flint, sometimes vehemently he was one of those people whose warmth instantly wins you over. He happened to be sporting an old American Motors pin in his lapel which caught my eye as my father worked there when I was a kid. So, Mr. Flint while we may continue to disagree on auto industry strategies and how we view the various accomplishments of the big three, you won this round on humanity.

Back to the New York Prius Connection…

Mr. Tim Morrison of Toyota welcoming the attendees to the Prius Connection New York.

Ms. Natae Rayner of Toyota discussing the new 2010. I want to say that Natae was very helpful (and sympathetic) with my own questions about the 2010. Thanks Natae!

As an aside, these little things were some kind of amazing fig concoction that can only be described as a nuclear fig newton on steroids laced with whatever addictive substance you care to name. They were tasty. Cheers to Toyota for the wonderful food.

The Skylight Gallery.

Now here is something that doesn’t happen every day.

This is Mr. Gary Carter, Prius owner and POG reader. I don’t meet many people who actually admit to the existence of this little site so I was delighted when he recognized the site right away and said he was a reader. I had a great time chatting with Gary and he was kind enough to pose for this shot.

Yes, Prius trivia was a central part of the connection in New York as well. And to add even more surprise to the evening, I triumphed in one round although I was competing against my kid and one other person. So it’s not like I was faced with a panel of experts from Priuschat (thankfully).

The kid got the “Prius Genius” t-shirt.

You can see the entire gallery from the New York Prius Connection by clicking here.

So, late Sunday night we begin the eleven hour drive to Chicago for the final Prius Connection (that I’ll be attending). That takes place on Tuesday, expect a full report and pictures from the trip and the Connection. And while this is the final Prius Connection report for the POG it is by no means the end of the reporting we’re doing on the 3G 2010 Prius. Huge things are coming very soon. Stay tuned.

Not this guy again

Our old friend G. Chambers Williams III is back on his “hybrid look like hybrids” high horse again.

And these guys get paid to write this stuff.

What am I doing wrong?

Stupid quote of the week

Now this one is a beaut…

But like I said last week, cops can so much easier haul a dead body in the
cargo hold of a Jeep Cherokee than they can in the back of a Toyota Prius.

Well thanks for clearing that but once again, I would disagree. Perhaps that’s why the paper hides this junk behind a scrip wall.

Really?

James R. Healy of McNewspaper…sorry…USAToday says…

OK, let’s just get it out there: The 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid is the best gasoline-electric hybrid yet.
What makes it best is a top-drawer blend of an already very good midsize sedan with the industry’s smoothest, best-integrated gas-electric power system. It’s so well-done that you have to look to the $107,000 Lexus LS 600h hybrid to come close.

You’re kidding me right? The next best thing compared to the Fusion is a six figure Lexus hybrid? In what way exactly? It’s not hybrid performance. So it must be something else.

he Toyota Prius crowd will protest. Prius is lower-priced, has about the same room inside, has a handy hatchback configuration, gets better mileage — and most of those attributes could improve when the 2010 Prius goes on sale in a few months — so how could Fusion be the best hybrid?

Protest? No.

And I can’t speak for the “Prius crowd” but when you compare a vehicle that performs at a lower level than the Prius and costs more and then call the second place Fusion “the best” perhaps this Prius owner just questions your judgment.

And I didn’t even say hi

Jim Motavalli at the NYC Prius event and here’s his report.

Diesel is not the answer here in the U.S.

Someone really wants a diesel.

I don’t get it. I guess I’m a “wuss”.

Making the same mistake twice

Roman Mica, writing for the Philly Examiner seems transfixed on the idea of exploding hybrids even though his initial report on the Lexus explosion early last week was completely debunked.

Honestly, are you afraid of batteries or just stupid?

Oh, and seriously, just a friendly suggestion, stick to writing about triathlons. Every time you stick your nose into the hybrid issue you just look worse and worse.

Making batteries here

This article mentions the Johnson Controls i3 PHEV and the importance of making advanced batteries here in the U.S.

You think?

Honda Insight on sale now in Japan

According to numerous sources and press releases the Insight is now on sale in Japan.

Renting green

Enterprise Adds 500 Hybrids, Designates Almost 80 ‘Hybrid Branches’

Enterprise Rent-A-Car is adding about 5,000 hybrids to its nationwide fleet and designating almost 80 rental locations across the country as “hybrid branches.”

The addition of gas/electric hybrids doubles the amount of hybrids Enterprise owns, according to the company.

The new hybrids will be available at nearly 80 locations in 24 major markets across the country, including the 10 busiest airports for business travelers in the U.S.

Customers will be able to choose from several makes and models of hybrid vehicles including the Toyota Prius, Nissan Altima, Ford Escape and Toyota Camry.

The company also offers a nationwide car sharing program that provides hourly rental options. The vehicles are placed in designated parking spaces where they can be accessed electronically.

Last September, Enterprise opened its first “Green Branch” in Sacramento.

One more reason to avoid Faux News

Seriously, Fox isn’t a “source” for journalism is any sense of the word I understand. This headline is just one of many make that point.

The Futility of Hybrid Cars

The gist of the story. Other countries pollute, why should we even try to reduce our pollution.

Sad, just sad.

Volt appearances in late 2010

According to this report in the Washington Post a GM exec told them the Volt will debut in Washington D.C. and the San Francisco Bay area in late 2010.