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Toyota’s EV battery future promises 500 miles of range by 2026 — and much more beyond Toyota’s entry into the worldwide electric vehicles sweepstakes has so far been more like a toe dipped into the pool instead of a dive from the high board. But it has now outlined a full-speed-ahead plan focused on developing battery tech that can lead to a range of 500 miles by 2026 in its next generation of EVs. And according to its blue-sky battery “roadmap,” the Japanese giant sees coming in 2027-28 its first solid-state battery, which would offer 1,000 kilometers (about 620 miles) of range and take an 80% charge in 10 minutes. Eventually, Toyota predicts, advanced cell technologies could extend an EV’s driving range to more than 746 miles (1,200 km), and, further down the line, to as much as 932 miles (1,500 km). In the near-term works, the company reports, are two batteries, a lithium ion so-called Performance cell and a lithium-iron-phosphate “Popularization,” a lower-cost battery for entry-level EVs. Between 2027 and 2028, a lithium ion High Performance pack offering 621 miles of range will replace the Performance battery in the lineup. It will also be 10% cheaper, Toyota said, and will take 20 minutes to charge. The Japanese company has already released its first electric crossover, the bZ4X, as a 2023 model. That front-wheel-drive SUV comes with a 150-kilowatt motor that produces 201 horsepower out of a 71.4-kilowatt-hour battery that returns an estimated 252 miles of range. Assessing the big picture, Toyota has said optimistically that it plans to globally market 3.5 million EVs, with a wide variety of models and power (and battery) specifications, by 2030. Toyota is also developing methods to reduce the thickness of its battery packs, to improve interior comfort for passengers and shrink overall vehicle heights to improve aerodynamics. The battery in the bZ4X measures 150 mm (5.9-inches) including its casing, but that will drop to 120 mm (4.7-inches) for regular vehicles, and 100 mm (3.9-inches) in sports cars.

Top Ways ATVs Help with Storm Response Four-wheelers are known for their speed, agility, ability to cover difficult terrain, and maneuverability around obstacles that just can’t be done with a larger vehicle. For these reasons, they’re also reliable for emergency response services in the aftermath of hurricanes, wildfires, floods, blizzards, tornadoes, and other natural disasters. To see how all-terrain vehicles make a difference during a crisis, ATV Trader is taking a closer look at the top ways ATVs and UTVs help with storm response. Natural Disaster Response and Recovery At any time of year, in any region of the country, a storm can strike and cause serious damage to communities, cities, and natural areas. The consequences can be catastrophic, whether it’s structural damage to buildings and bridges; downed power lines, streetlights and trees; or a pile-up of totaled vehicles on public roads. ATVs and UTVs can be used to assist with natural disaster response and recovery right away.  Fit your four-wheeler with a winch and attachments and you can remove trees and other debris. Firefighters can put out smaller fires with vehicles equipped with skid units, water tanks, and pressurized hoses. If you know the ways ATVs and UTVs are used for work in winter, put tire chains on your quad and a snow plow attachment to clear land after a blizzard. You can also use the bed of your vehicle on your side-by-side to move supplies like sanitized water, food, and electricity generators. Emergency Medical Response Every second counts when dealing with emergency medical response after a storm has done its damage. For immediate care, first responders such as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) can use all-terrain vehicles in certain scenarios to navigate through natural disaster locations to help those that are injured and in need of immediate medical attention. Among the many ways ATVs and UTVs are used for emergency response services, ATVs and UTVs can help carry first-aid kits, oxygen tanks, cardiac monitors, tourniquets, stretchers, bed mounts, or a Stokes basket. It can also be a better means of providing fast medical attention when the terrain is too difficult for a larger vehicle. Side-by-sides can be used to transport those suffering from injuries and transfer them to an ambulance or helicopter to receive immediate medical care at a hospital. Search and Rescue An ATV or UTV can be a faster way to look for those that may be stranded during a search and rescue mission after a storm has passed. Whether it’s an EMT squad, police force, or park rangers on the job, these all-terrain support vehicles can sometimes surpass the effectiveness of other emergency vehicles in certain scenarios. For example, an ATV can handle heavily forested areas and will have more traction with hills, rocky mountains, rocks, large sand dunes, and thick mud than a large ambulance that might need to stick to the road. In the wake of a storm where there are downed trees, power lines, and other dangerous debris blocking the way, your four-wheeler can get to those hard-to-reach destinations. You might even have greater visibility in woodlands than a helicopter flying above. And you’ll certainly cover more ground and go faster than you would on foot.  Shop for new and used ATV trailers for sale. Emergency responders save countless lives and help with recovery when a storm has done its worst. While ATVs are designed for play and work, they continue to make an impact when a natural disaster strikes.

Germany Private Sales August 2023: Dacia #3, VW T-Roc and Mini on top, Tesla Model Y #1 YTD Today we have a rare update for you: brands and models rankings of German Private Sales (as opposed to Fleet Rental and Company sales) for August and year-to-date. This way we have a more precise picture of what the Germans really feel like buying. There were 83,939 private sales in Germany in August vs. 273,417 overall, that’s a private sales ratio (PS ratio) of just 30.7%. This is down from 37.1% in August 2022 when 73,897 units were sold to private buyers (+13.6% year-on-year in a general market up 37.3%). Year-to-date, PS edge up 2.6% to 608,513 or 31.8% of the total market vs. 36.1% over the first 8 months of 2023. That’s compared to a general market up 16.5% YTD. Volkswagen tops the brands ranking despite a weak 25.9% PS ratio, it distances Mercedes at 29%. So far, no change compared to the general ranking. The upheaval starts at #3 where we have Dacia vs. #13 in the general ranking. BMW and Audi follow with poor 22.9% and 20.9% PS ratio, with Skoda in tow, also below the market at 27.1% PS ratio. Ford (32.5% PS ratio) remains in 7th place above Fiat (38.8%) up two spots on its general market ranking to #8, Seat also up two spots to #9 and Hyundai down two to #10. Tesla is up to #11 and #8 year-to-date. Mazda (57.4%), Mitsubishi (63.6%), Honda (47.8%) and Ineos (48.1%) also impress. The models ranking is completely reshuffled as expected. The VW T-Roc comfortably takes the lead with a 44.8% PS ratio, followed by the Mini at 46.5% and the Tesla Model Y at 41.2%. An astounding fact: the Model Y is currently #1 year-to-date with private buyers with a PS ratio of 54.7%! The Fiat 500 lineup follows at #4 and 29.3% ration while the general market leader, the VW Golf (26.6% PS ratio) is down to #5. Note the Golf has a poor 18.2% PS ratio year-to-date. The Ford Puma (54.6% PS ratio) is up 22 spots on its general ranking to #7 and the Fiat Ducato (83.3% PS) is up 52 to #8. Three Dacias follow: the Sandero (85.2% PS) at #9 vs. #63 in the general market, the Duster (82.6% PS ) at #10 vs. #62 and the Spring (41.8% PS) at #11 vs. #20. Other great performers with private buyers include the Dacia Jogger (81.5%) at #18 vs. #76, the MG 4 (49.8%) at #19 vs. #53, the VW Taigo (55.2%) at #25 vs. #64 and the Mitsubishi Space Star (68.9%) at #29 vs. #79.

Top Mountain Trail Destinations For High-Elevation Off-Roading With taller peaks and extreme rides, you might be wondering why we’re highlighting high-elevation trails instead of some of the other wonderful off-roading trails that exist across this great nation. To put it simply, the higher the trail, the better the views. With that in mind, ATV Trader has compiled some of the top mountain trail destinations for high-elevation off-roading on both sides of the country that are breathtaking, exciting, and fun.  Transport your off-roader uphill with one of these ATV trailers for sale. What Is High Elevation ATV Riding? To start, let’s explore what high elevation means for riding. For example, the 11,000-foot views you can get from several Rocky Mountain trails are nearly twice as high as the tallest point in New England, which happens to be Mount Washington in the White Mountains of New Hampshire at 6,684 feet. And while there aren’t designated off-roading opportunities on Mount Washington, there are some rides that will take you up high in the East, and even more opportunities in the West. Here are some of our favorites.