Winter Driving (document).  New documents.  Woohoo!  This is among the first of the ideas flowing.  I learned a lot from being an EV presenter at 4 different summer markets this year.  Questions people asked covered a variety of topics.  Feedback from answers, combined with an observation of how people like to read literature taped to the vehicle windows, inspired me to create single sheets on specific topics.  They can take a copy of interest with them or just scan the QR codes to get detail on their phone.  Available online and as a document can download for printing, this first addresses the popular topic of below freezing EV use. The snow & ice season can be quite nice, once you understand the influence of cold temperatures.  Follow the link for this webpage... Plug-In Vehicle: Winter Driving

Resale.  Lots of opinion, very little fact, is the problem.  Far too many are making assumptions based on anecdotal evidence, from the here & now.  Not having any history to leverage is scary.  They are just totally guessing... you know, keyboard warriors.  Recognizing audience is vital.  They don't understand what's coming.  No background with a market that does not have the influence of tax-credits will be new to them.  I'm familiar with the cycles.  I understand the nature of changes to come.  In fact, the reaction to such market shift of the past is well documents in this logs.  So, the following comments I posted aren't much of a stretch:  Market stir will be interesting.  Resale value only comes into play if you sell and find a suitable replacement.   Worth of the vehicle itself for reliable transport that's really cheap to operate is retained.  No loss realized if you have a family with the hand-me-down approach.  I couldn't imagine what it would be like as a teenager having the concern of your first vehicle being an ICE... which is exactly why timing could be right for the smaller capacity offerings, like bZ with a 57 kWh pack.

I understand the messaging behind "anti-EV" claims.  But coming from enthusiasts, rather than Toyota's own loyal showroom shoppers, makes it all fall flat.  So what if Toyota didn't want to sell loss-leaders like everyone else.  What consequences of that will be material in 2026 for ordinary consumers?

Great Timing.  Collapse of Tesla has been a surprise even to me.  I hadn't expected it to be so abrupt.  Timing makes it rather interesting too: "Whether the timing was intentional or a lucky coincidence, I think Toyota has a window of opportunity with an improved (and diversified) bZ lineup to win back Tesla owners with aging Model 3s or Model Ys who are less than impressed with Tesla's own underwhelming mid-cycle refreshes, let alone all the other baggage with the brand."  It's what I have said all along about approach.  Toyota doesn't rush or thrive on the spotlight.  They have always been about targeting the masses.  That usually meant disappointing enthusiasts... which allowed others to capitalize on eager consumers focusing solely on the short-term.  That was always fine.  Here's why:  Timing has always been a Toyota strength... advantage, tortoise.  Tesla was the hare racing toward a cliff (absence of diversification).  So, there was no possible way in any business sense to achieve their desired growth, not to mention simply keeping existing offerings fresh.  In short, the "Innovator's Dilemma" was quite predicable.  Year 6 for Model Y would really be pushing it... perfect timing for a big update.  Adding C-HR and Woodland to the mix will really cause a market stir, catching attention of many who took advantage of the tax-credit by leasing.  With their leases expiring, Toyota will be well positioned to attract those with BEV ownership experience already... conquest sales, being in the right place at the right time.

Since I have requested a 2026 (no formal order yet, but that should happen when first allocations are released), we hopefully won't have to wait long to find out what changed.

In short, this type of rhetoric was a good sign in the past.  History tells us Toyota is tripping up enthusiast magazines again.

Getting Easier.  Being part of the Honda Prologue group has been very informative.  GM owners of their rebrand also represent mainstream buyers well, but aren't as vocal.  I simply learn more from the exchanges from Honda owners.  Perhaps it's because there's no reason to defend anything.  Anywho, an owner went on a 4-hour drive to his in-laws place.  What caught my attention was no mention of distance.  How far was the trip?  With a 300-mile range, there was obviously some charging along the way.  Absence of detail is nothing new.  But since I'm trying to squeeze out information from constructive sharing, I provided some of my own experience:  4 hours away?  That's around 300 miles.  That trip will become much easier over time.  Here in Minnesota, we're seeing round 1 of NEVI installs (main highway corridors) become a reality this year while at the same time an effort to fill in with rural installs (both DC and level-2 at each location) also make some real progress this year.  Both will make my trips easier.

Huh?  Quite predictably, he had no idea what I was saying: "I'm not sure what you mean."  It was a polite reply.  Understandably, he wouldn't.  Most have absolutely no background or history to reflect upon.  Know your audience.  That perspective is perfectly fine.  It's important to recognize it though.  No doing so is how misunderstandings come about.  Hopefully, I did a decent job of that responding with:  Most don't.  Enthusiasts have very different background & expectations than a software engineer or business executive.  Toyota's approach strives for balance, with a focus on long-term gain with mainstream shoppers as the target.  That's in stark contrast to enthusiasts wanting all shortcomings to be addressed as quickly as possible.  Keep in mind, ordinary consumers current "could be improved" mindset is they will have to purchase a newer model.  That's the way it has been for decades with ICE.  Heck, that's the way is has been for 25 years of hybrids too.  It's all about understanding audience.  What you label as "shortcoming" needing to be fixed ASAP is the reason why mainstream shoppers wait a few years for before purchasing.

OTA Expectations.  There's an ongoing theme that more is better.  If Toyota doesn't provide updates, something must be lacking.  Since when?  It's actually bizarre to buy something expecting OTA (over the air) updates to make it better.  Why can't it already be that way at time of purchase?  I finally got some detail after asking that question countless times: "There's a lot of infotainment things that could be improved, charging curve, etc. that can be improved.  The Ford F-150 Lightening has seen like a 7-min charge improvement since launch, other's cars have gotten native route planning, and new features."  I replied with:  Those are just small tweaks, nothing major.  Since Toyota rolled out with a highly refined operating system already, there wasn't much else to deliver.  It was already proven robust.  Think about it.  2016 is when their first widely available EV propulsion system rolled out.  Remember how Prius Prime delivered 84 mph (135 km/h) of electric-only driving, complete with heat-pump?  It had already acquired detail real-world data from the original version in 2012, Prius PHV.  Toyota is subtle with their tech.  They shook out shortcomings long before any worldwide BEV rollout.  Remember the predecessor to bZ4X?  That was Lexus UX300e.

Friendly Forums.  I spend the bulk of my online time participating on hostile forums, those that don't like Toyota.  It's an educational opportunity.  There is very little to learn when in echo-chambers, since they mostly just fortify you stance.  There's no challenge, rarely even a devil's advocate to keep discussions in check.  But on a venue with the intent to concur, they fight hard to exploit weaknesses... but eventually expose their own, when fighting becomes an act of desperation.  Use of my time there is fruitful in the "defense" phase, when a technology/approach is still new.  Enthusiasts tend to be so narrow minded, they miss objectives and don't understand audiences.  Years later when that technology/approach becomes established, roles reverse as the "offense" phase begins.  Basically, it comes down to having enough real-world data from ordinary consumers to turn the table.  Assumptions are squashed.  Misconceptions are disproven.  Long story short, I get time to spend on friendly forums.  There's a big one for bZ that I have been silent on since 2021.  Not anymore!  I recently started posting.  Today, it was an exchange with someone who went on a trip from Northern Illinois to right here in the Twin Cities.  He ended up staying really close.  The proximity got his attention.  Since that was an annual trip for him, but this was the first with the bZ, we had a lot of info to exchange.  His observations about rural Wisconsin reminded me of my experiences a few years ago.  I shared:  That was me venturing into Northern Minnesota back in Spring 2023.  Back then, the only charging along my route close to my destination was a level-2 near a bar with great burgers.  Along the way were 2 expensive old 50 kW chargers in bad locations, one of which is now much nicer and more convenient.  I was able to use level-1 when parked overnight.   So, that worked out fine.  Last year, a public DC opened up near my destination and another is planned for this fall.  That aspect of adventure is gone.  Strange how nostalgic I now look back on that time.

• DC fast-chargers (too few, unreliable)
• Overnight chargers (nothing for apartments & condos)
• Expensive electricity
• Expensive vehicles

California's investment is thankfully being matched elsewhere.  I'm in Minnesota and we've heard from Walz about a continued funding push even if NEVI ends.  One of the big rural providers (Minnesota Power) is pushing hard to deliver ample coverage along its travel corridors this year, with new station locations offering both DC and level-2 chargers.  We also recently got our first Ionna station with another location coming soon.

Thank You.  Gotta love sarcastic posts like this: "Thank you, sincerely for reminding me why I will never buy an electric vehicle."  I got that on my MagicDock video, which has now over 15,000 views.  I had no idea it would remain so active years later.  Of course, I assumed the audience would be owners curious about the transition.  I didn't realize those who are resisting change would be watching too.  That makes my reply to his attitude all the more potent:  You won't ever need to do that.  The adapters will no longer be needed, starting with 2026 models.  Payment can be done with a credit card at new stations.  Also, each automaker is enrolling into "Plug & Charge".  With that, you will only need a credit-card for initial setup.  That makes it easier than getting gas.

More Promoting.  Owning a vehicle (fully paid for) that already fits my needs well, it doesn't make much sense taking a huge depreciation hit replacing it with the newest model.  True, I will take delight in the subtle refinements 3 years newer will provide, especially coming from an automaker who thrives at continuous improvement.  But that's still a lot of money.  I look at it as a good investment.  If I'm going to contribute to a cause, having the best possible source material makes my efforts more effective.  This is how I put that when asked about my upgrade decision:  With all the promoting I've been doing, the extra range and faster charging will be useful.  I can make commitments further away.  I can obviously demo DC in a useful manner too.   Also, it will make trips to the cabins (north our timeshare, east friend's place) effortless.  Otherwise, I really love the vehicle I already have.  This administration is tearing apart the 25 years of advocacy I have invested.  That depreciation is worth the good fight.  We have a strong EV owners group here to support.