Toyota CEO steps down

or else

 

It is now realizing not worth to answer

 

True, but that also creates its own "or else" situations as well. Absolute free market often times drives out "best" for "cheapest right now" and regularly creates markets where although new, better, products come along they don't have years of worldwide resources expended to drive down costs and thus are not immediately competitive. As a result they cannot "break in" to an established and stagnant market without external influence.

It is also in the interest of a pure "free market" to drive out competition. You see this in established players with deep pockets using their power and influence to drive out competition by being able to lose money on a product until nobody can compete. Walmart does this, Amazon has, and I have seen things like small mom and pop gas stations driven out by big chains willing to lose money for a little while.

 

Not sure I see your point.

Is it THE solution? Maybe not, there might be something better that can come along, but right now there isn't anything available that is viable. We also can't let perfect be the enemy of good, progression is a marathon not winning a lottery.

They are however BETTER than existing products. Again, not perfect, but definitively better. They are looked at not to SOLVE issues, but they are looked at to IMPROVE upon those issues.

 

I was responding to the

 

Oh, the humanity!

 

Too soon?

 

Didn't you get the reference? Haven't you ever seen the Hindenberg explosion video?

 

Ummm, yeah. That's why I asked if it was too soon to joke about it. Since it was "just" eighty five years ago...

 

it's ok, i'm sure it would have been a doozy.

 

Concerning battery powered lawn tools; I sneared when they first came out and had zero faith that they would be a viable alternative to gas powered machines. But my liberal tree hugging ex-hippie brother bought some and proved me wrong.

I ended up buying the 80v Kobalt brand series of EV tools on clearance at Lowes before they were replaced by the 40v version and love them. I got the weed whacker, hedge trimmer, blower, and the lawn mower and could not be more impressed. And they all share the same batteries and I have four of the damn things.

 

It’s nice to be able to go mow at 9pm and not piss off the neighbors because you forgot to do it all day.

 

The best tools I’ve ever purchased for my honey are battery powered hedge trimmers and a blower. She blows like crazy now.

 

Damn, now you have me second guessing what the wife told me to go out and buy?

 

Well, if you like your neighbors.
My neighbors consist of several renters, a hoarder and a friendly younger couple that actually make an effort on their property. They're the only ones I can tolerate. I might be moving soon though.

 

I remember this joke about the president and CEO of an HVAC equipment manufacturer who couldn't figure out why his gas furnaces weren't selling. He hired a specialist to do some research into why this was. After a relatively short period of time, the analyst says he believes he knows why his furnaces aren't selling. The CEO asks why, and the analyst says "Well, it's a long story Mr. Hindenberg..."

 

Well I guess I better make sure my phone is on. Toyota will most likely be calling me up. Yep probably headed to the show, Y'all. It's been a great ride and I mention you guys up there at HQ.

 

It was named after Germany's late President Paul von Hindenburg which kind of takes away from the "joke", but I can appreciate the sentiment.

 

I'm sure there are plenty of people named Hindenburg out there; I had a German immigrant bus driver named Adolf in high school. His last name was NOT what you think it was (I actually don't remember it), but whenever I heard the name Adolf, "Hitler" was the last name that always came to mind...

 

Well, EV or not, I am still waiting for the flying cars we would all be driving by 2000 give or take. Once the battery tech gets better, and along with it greater range, and the charging infrastructure is in place, I'd consider an EV. I have a Specialized Turbo Levo MTB and have been disappointed with the battery longevity, only getting about 300-350 charge cycles before the capacity has greatly diminished.

We have both EV's and Hybrids in our corporate fleet and the EV's are new enough that the range is still acceptable but most of our long term Hybrids (over 125k or so) are mostly running on the gas motor. Battery replacements aren't cost effective and without the federal tax breaks on these when new, they didn't make economic sense long term.

I am not convinced that the carbon footprint of an EV from production to scrap is any smaller than a high MPG ICE vehicle or that is was more cost effective either. My brother's Tesla with the Ludicrist pkg is insanely fast, but to me it's still a high cost toy.