Toyota Displays Hybrid Synergy Drive® Versatility With CNG-Powered Camry Hybrid Concept

Nice concept, but who will buy a car without a trunk or a trunk good enough for two grocery bags.

 

I want CNG Prius.

 

This is only to illustrate how the HSD system can be fueled by CNG, using an existing Camry as the mule. It's not meant for grocery shopping.

 

The economy figures are worse than the gasoline Camry, not by much admittedly, but still worse. Now if they had been at or over 40mpg irrespective of the price and availability of CNG nationally, it would make quite a few people sit up and take notice.

And a range of 250 miles isnt exactly going to get most people though the week without one stop at a filling station either.

Nice try Toyota, but keep on down the Prius PHEV route please for now.

Anyway, where's the hydrogen cell Prius if you want future concept cars ?

 

Awesome!!! I've been seeing "CNG ---> " road signs all over Orange County over the past few months, and I know the refilling stations are definitely already in place. I also see about two or three CNG vehicles on the road every week. I've been saying for about a year now that automakers need to combine hybrid-electric drives with other alternative fuel sources. Obviously, CNG and biofuels are the first thought to come to mind. I'm glad to see that Toyota has created this car. I will be even happier when they put it into production.

I am going to the LA Auto Show tomorrow evening. I'll take pics of hybrids if I see anything new or worthwhile.

 

It's always good to have more than just one resource in your portfolio. The more avenues and areas that you explore, the better prepared you will be for any unexpected changes that may come in the future. Also, keep in mind that this is CNG and not LNG. This is just the first generation. The reporters are definitely correct that there are trillions of cubic meters of methane deposits in North America, mainly under the Appalachian Mountains. Stored in the gas state, it might not be as energy dense as gasoline, but it sure is the answer to energy independence (STOPPING the outflow of our money to the Middle East, Russia, and Venezuela). When we can figure out a way to get the more dense LPG into vehicles (the problem is the filling stations - the transfer of methane in the liquid state requires much more controlled conditions), your "mpg" will be [almost] just as good as gasoline.

And keep in mind that as hybrid technology evolves and improves, the need for enough "fuel" will be less of a concern.

 

from what I have heard of the Civic CNG. The pistons do not even have any gunk after 100k miles. It is that clean.

 

nice i like the look! nice front grill blocking
and a good thing this is happening with cng

 

I don't think CNG cars have any future beyond the couple dozen required to meet CARB ZEV requirements. It's a CARB loophole that should have been closed a long time ago, so that the auto industry either comes up with something completely unexpected, or gets down to the business of building electric cars.

 

they made a cng camry in 2000-01, but obviously not with hsd.

 

Yea, I like that "out of this world" bald, plain, alien grill look.

 

Would more CNG vehicles on the road cause the price of CNG to rise, hence making it more expensive to heat your home?

CNG probably makes more sense for buses and large fleet vehicles. For your average consumer/driver, I think EVs would work out best.

 

I still maintain it will be hard to match the current Prius unless it's an all-battery Prius. Nobody wants to handle gas gas.

 

Wouldn't those sport rims/tires eat into the mpg's just as they do with the Prius?

 

Those rims are 19" running on rubber bands though. I would think that would affect the mileage fairly significantly ... unless I'm missing something.

 

Check this out. It's the list of "HYBRID & ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES" that
will be present at the LA Auto Show. The list is huge! LA Auto Show

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You're missing the point. The money would remain withing U.S. boarders and be recirculated back into the American Economy instead of funding Dubai's extravagence, funding Iran's nuclear weapons program, Russia's military, and Hugo Chavez. Instead, the money would remain in the United States and be spent or reinvested into OUR world and NOT our enemies.