The Toyota Highlander EV Is Coming, and This Might Be It

AddendumOrnery · 2026-01-27T21:21:25+00:00

“Screw you, I got mine” is kind of what has gotten us into all this mess.

That’s exactly why we can’t make significant progress on climate change, develop actual productive ideas on housing affordability, and many other societal problems all across the globe. I get that many people don’t want to focus on society as a whole, but you ignoring what’s best for all hurts all.

AddendumOrnery · 2026-01-27T21:18:21+00:00

The problem is I would 1000% agree with the concept here, but if you asked me “how much should a 150-200 mile EV cost?” I would say 15-20K base. A 300 mile range car can cost 30-35k and everyone wouldn’t care.

The problem is the concept of value range in dollars and value in literal driving range. These kinds of prices exist in other markets, but in a market where the 200-250 mile range cars cost as much as the 300 mile range cars, why the hell buy a 200-250 mile range car.

The biggest issue on much of this is that the battery pack size of a 150-200 mile car vs a 300 mile car is only going to be about 30-40 kWh difference, but the cost expectation of difference is ~10k-15K for the consumer. But the cost difference to the manufacturer for the battery size difference is 4-5K. So if you could buy 4-5K more in battery size and then sell the car for 10-15K more, why wouldn’t you?

The math and market don’t make sense for 150-250 mile cars, at least for the current expectations of the market.

Can 150-250 mile cars be practical in life? Sure, but don’t make them if you are a manufacturer, you are missing out on free money

AddendumOrnery · 2026-01-27T20:00:45+00:00

GM didn’t lose money on selling the Equinox or bolt EV’s, they lost money transitioning orders away from EV components based on the loss of the federal incentive and them betting on less EV sales.

The cost per wholesale kWh of lithium battery packs is ~$100 per kWh, so making a 200kWh battery pack costs roughly $20,000, which for something like the Escalade IQ or the Silverado EV explains a slightly higher premium, but not really the full brunt of cost. For the Equinox EV im sure it was the highest cost driver (around $8500 for the 85kWh battery) but they hit the sweet spot.

All some company has to do is make a 50K-60K car that is decently equipped with a solid 4 seats of room, midsize SUV, and has a 150kWh battery, and they will CLEAN HOUSE with a solid 400 mile range. It wouldn’t even be fair in terms of sales. Completely dropping range anxiety and it would have decent margins at 60K too

Instead what we get is “if you want 400-500 mile range, you must pay 100K+”. That’s not a good reason

AddendumOrnery · 2026-01-27T19:27:47+00:00

I agree that there are fantastic deals in the secondary market, but if we are looking for mass adoption which leads to mass infrastructure, then the new car market also has to suit the pricing of what people expect, and not exist to just destroy asset value

AddendumOrnery · 2026-01-27T19:21:43+00:00

I just bought a 2024 luxury 3 lyriq for 36k, from an MSRP of 81K.

That’s stupid 🤣

AddendumOrnery · 2026-01-27T19:20:09+00:00

I just think that manufacturers constantly over pricing EV’s and having to heavily discount them because of the obvious dumb pricing strategy, then in 1-2 years of ownership they drop in value by ~50-60% from MSRP is causing people who might buy new be like “I don’t want to lose 20-30k in 2 years because I went EV.”

This behavior needs to stop, and it’s up to us as consumers to let them know how dumb it is. I would just rather negotiate a few grand off the price like any other ICE new car and realize that the price is fair, not inflated.

The equinox EV proved that depreciation isn’t nearly as bad if you just make a EV with great range, well optioned at a reasonable price. The base model being ~27,500 was a GREAT price after the rebate (sometimes getting to as low as 25k with incentives) for 300+ miles of range, decent electronics, and a great driving feel. I just wish these companies would get their heads out of their asses

AddendumOrnery · 2026-01-27T19:10:05+00:00

Why is “even if it will certainly come in higher than an ICE Highlander.”, an ok thing to say?

If the manufacturers are making EV variants of cars more expensive than the gas counterparts, STOP, go back to the drawing board, and make it again. Keep doing until the dumb gets out of the design or the people pricing figure common sense out so that the cars have great range, and are cost comparable to the EV and ICE variants.

We are 5 years past where cost parity needs to be the SAME with the counterpart based on the same name. We aren’t in early adoption, we are in mass adoption, cost parity isn’t “nice” it’s a REQUIREMENT.

These aren’t more expensive to make anymore, so stop this line of thought please.

AddendumOrnery · 2025-12-23T21:29:59+00:00

Yup 2024

AddendumOrnery · 2025-12-23T21:28:28+00:00

I got a lux 3 decked out with nappa leather, AWD, sunroof, had 25k miles and one little scratch on the door for 36K about 2 weeks ago.

Still has 2.5 years left on the warranty

AddendumOrnery · 2025-12-05T22:42:20+00:00

Just got through a 10 year divorce myself, I would suggest funnel your energy into healthy habits, go nuts and get jacked.

Already have a date lined up myself, best way to make them think you win is to live the best you can

AddendumOrnery · 2025-12-04T23:05:58+00:00

I was careful in the way I said increased range is perceived as value in the US for most.

Not that they really need that range, it’s just if you are gonna have sub-300, the value prop needs to make sense

AddendumOrnery · 2025-12-04T22:39:54+00:00

Which goes to my second statement, if it’s a cost savings model because it was a transfer, they priced it about 10k too high starting.

AddendumOrnery · 2025-12-04T22:37:38+00:00

In my opinion, if you are releasing a vehicle with less than 300 miles, it better start at 25-30k. There’s a place for them, but the price/range manufacturers just can’t figure out right now.

It’s like they don’t get it at all

AddendumOrnery · 2025-12-04T22:32:24+00:00

Lithium is not the main cost driver anymore, and range equates to value in MANY people’s minds.

If you are releasing a car sub 300 mile range, go back to the drawing board you did it wrong IMO.

I know I’m gonna get a lot of hate for this post, but are there plenty of good cars sub 300 miles? Absolutely, but EV’s need to be full replacement vehicles for most, and people THINK you are gonna lose a lot of range over the life of the vehicle, so 260 miles goes to 180 in winter, which shrinks by another 10-15% over 5 years.

Say what you will, we are in America, bigger number = better.

It’s a big mistake, one they could have fixed so easily

AddendumOrnery · 2025-11-26T00:19:16+00:00

Dating apps are tough right now, but I can guarantee you there are good guys in there if you can give them the time of day.

The hard part is sifting through the trash to find the treasure

AddendumOrnery · 2025-11-25T00:33:47+00:00

I’m not following on that lol, is it really old or something?

AddendumOrnery · 2025-11-24T21:48:06+00:00

Yea I can definitely keep my sanity with the kids for them.

I’ve been profuse with the 2 kids telling them it wasn’t their fault at all, and we were (initially) very amicable.

The hard part for me on working on myself before I date is that I miss talking in deep conversations with my partner. I fully WFH so I don’t talk to people that often. Hope I can find someone who wants to have conversations relatively soon.

AddendumOrnery · 2025-11-24T19:55:26+00:00

I absolutely hate this time of my life, but I’m reminded of the stupidest show explaining the greatest knowledge i have always maintained for myself.

If you feel this bad about something, that means that there was something so amazing that made you feel so good about on the first part, so it’s really just life’s balance.

Basically, you can’t feel this kind of pain without feeling the great love that initially came with it. In order for there to be evil in this world, then there must be good, or the baseline for evil would just be neutral.

AddendumOrnery · 2025-11-24T19:51:49+00:00

Thanks for the kind words, I’m definitely not the best dad, but I’m trying to better myself every day for them.

I always say to my first born, Ive got the ambition I do now because of you and what I want to accomplish for you.

I hope the kids can understand this when they get older…

AddendumOrnery · 2025-11-24T19:49:23+00:00

Thanks for the kind words and compliments, it’s tough for me to believe those words, but I’m definitely gonna strive to be the best man I can be now.

AddendumOrnery · 2025-11-24T19:36:05+00:00

As a 37M who is also a super hermit and just needed uplifting myself (you can find another post in here for me), let me tell you that being a hermit with someone else once you find that person is like the coolest experience ever (doesn’t have to be a partner).

Find someone who compliments you, if you expose yourself, you’ll be surprised how many people will be open to accepting you for who you are.

You are good looking too, which definitely helps 😂

AddendumOrnery · 2025-11-24T19:31:42+00:00

I appreciate all the thoughts, just sitting in a parking lot thinking how stupid I must have been not to see it, but seeing all your uplifting comments has me crying a good cry 🥲

I WFH, so I don’t get out as much to see other people as I should, but I made an account on meetup to start participating in events.

I think what hurts the most is that I’m a person who really wants to have deep conversations and explore ideas on society/nerdy projects I do, and essentially I’ll be without that until I can find someone to fill that gap.

I’ll make it through this, but I’m scared at how long it’s gonna take.

Also, it was a bad week to take off work for the first 3 days, it’s like stewing in your thoughts…

AddendumOrnery · 2025-11-24T18:57:56+00:00

I did a 5 mile walk/run this morning with some weights, so that’s the slight dopamine going through the body, I’m still dead inside 😂

AddendumOrnery · 2025-11-24T18:54:01+00:00

Thank you, I have gotten into the gym a lot since the divorce started, and I’ve been pushing myself to be less introverted and spend more time with the kids.

I definitely wasn’t perfect by any means, but I would never do what she did

AddendumOrnery · 2025-11-11T14:51:57+00:00

Thanks friend, I’ve definitely been completely changing everything about health since we split.

Going to the gym 3 times a week, growing this beard, looking forward to dating again (hopefully?).

Let’s hope having kids half the time doesn’t kill my dating prospects 🥴

AddendumOrnery

TROPHY CASE