KT recently got interested in collecting fluorescent minerals and needed to upgrade His olde outdated UV lamps. What He found was a new generation of exceptionally easy to use portable field worthy lamps, based on Li ion battery technologies. There are several brands of long wave flashlight style lamps, Conboy and UV Beast being brand names. KT purchased a UV Beast Model T3, 365 nm wave length. It comes with 2 batteries 18650 and an extention tube to add a 3rd battery. 2 hour use with stock set up, with 3rd battery added, then up to 8 hours before recharging. Then KT began researching a portable Short Wave unit, and found Way Too Cool's 5-watt unit, uses 2 18650 batteries. His Majesty saw a comparison on a You Tube video between an 11 watt portable unit and this 5-watt unit...amazingly the 5-watt unit blew the competitor unit out of the water! So KT purchased the 5-watt unit. Fits in a small belt pack His Majesty already had and lasts 2 hours of field use. So at least KT has taken some baby steps into the "green movement".
Prince John is a computer geek and still remains somewhat sceptical of the multiple computers used in the Prius. He presently drives an older Honda Fit gasoline sipper, getting over 35 mpg on regular gas. The Queen purchased a new vehicle a few years back and asked about the new electric Honda, but was advised by the dealer's repairman that it was at that time untested technology, so she went with a full gas model. The Toyota Prius cratered Hondas attempt to break into the electric market as that all electric was dropped by Honda after only two years of poor sales. KT does like the duel hybrid set up, two motors, one gas and one electric, giving a back up if one has a problem.
Very glad to hear of your successful use, and the Prius is in its 6th version now, correct? Improvements in each version as the Prius has become increasingly popular. Too bad Toyota does not yet make a Tacoma-sized hybrid truck....KT would seriously consider that!
Thanks KT !!!!!
We're not so much into the "green" movement, as we are the extra "green" in our pockets
from not having to buy as much gas especially when prices go up, also nice to be able to drive on "electric only" when gas stations run out like many of them did around here recently.
Anyhow, don't confuse the regular Prius with the "Prius Prime", the regular Prius is a hybrid, but not a plug-in and does not have an "electric only" mode.
The "Prius Prime" is a "plug-in" hybrid that allows you to choose between driving in "all electric" (EV) mode or in hybrid mode (uses combination of gas and electric).
The Prius Prime first came out in early 2012, we have a 2020 Prius Prime (XLE model) and here is a link to the 2021 model:
https://www.toyota.com/priusprime/
The neat thing about a plug-in hybrid is that when you are driving in EV (all electric mode) and you use up the battery power reserved for EV the vehicle will automatically switch to hybrid mode (the car reserves a portion of the battery for hybrid use).
A plug-in hybrid gives you the advantage of driving in EV mode and not using any gas at all when your daily travels for that day are local and you keep within about 25-30 miles before recharging. (the manual says 25 miles in EV but in warmer weather we have gotten up to 30 with the 2020 Prius Prime)
Also, being a hybrid you don't have the range anxiety some people feel with an electric only vehicle, you use the EV when driving local, but have the assurance of driving as far as you need to with also being able to use gas when necessary for longer drives.
No Toyota electric or hybrid trucks yet from what I read, but just did a search and seems like it might be by 2025:
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/toyota-hybrid-electric-trucks-confirmed/
Not a truck, but for those who want something larger than a Prius Prime that is a plug-in hybrid I think 2021 is the first year for this model to be in the plug-in hybrid format:
2021 RAV4 PRIME
https://www.toyota.com/rav4prime/?icid=altfuel-suv-rav4prime
Florescent minerals are a minor side interest though I haven't looked at them much recently, I do have a few different inexpensive UV lights, but might check out that 5 watt you mentioned (just found the link online) to read about it. I think the florescent mineral hobby would be a lot more fun for me if I could find my own florescent minerals outdoors around here (that's the "treasure hunter" in me
), but I think the really good places are limited to mostly like the florescent places in New Jersey and I'm not driving that far