Toyota has announced plans to display a CNG-Powered Camry Hybrid Concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show this November.
In 1999, Toyota sold a CNG-powered four-cylinder Camry to fleet customers, but since gas prices were much cheaper than they are now there wasn't much demand for the vehicle. The special refueling techniques and limited refueling infrastructure also hurt the program. Well now Toyota is unveiling a new Camry Hybrid that is powered by CNG. Currently there are 1,000 CNG refueling stations in the country, but less than half are open to the public.
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PRESS RELEASE:
Toyota To Display CNG-Powered Camry Hybrid Concept At 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show
September 24, 2008 - Portland, OR - Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., announced here today at its Sustainable Mobility Seminar that it will display a compressed natural gas (CNG) Camry Hybrid concept vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.
“With the combination of plentiful long-term supplies in North America, improved and more efficient recovery methods, favorable pricing and clean-burn/low emissions characteristics, CNG has become a prime energy-source for the future,” said Irv Miller, group vice president, TMS Corporate Communications. “With this concept, we are confirming our interest in pursuing CNG within our broad and comprehensive R&D scope.”
In 1999 Toyota marketed a CNG-powered four-cylinder Camry to fleet customers in California. However, in an era of relatively cheap gasoline, customers were not attracted to a vehicle that required special refueling techniques and a limited refueling infrastructure and the program was discontinued a year later. Currently, there are only about 1,000 CNG refueling stations nationwide, with less than half open to the public.
The benefits of CNG are currently being amplified by rapidly changing market conditions and an increase in consumer environmental awareness. At the same time its drawbacks are being mitigated by a growing awareness that advanced technologies will require investment in appropriate infrastructure. The U.S. CNG pipeline system is an approximately 1.8 million mile network and expanding.
“Natural gas,” adds Miller, “and an expanded retail-friendly CNG infrastructure could be seen as a model for future hydrogen infrastructure.”
Comments (8)
There's a CNG 'pump' at a station near my house. I've never seen what vehicles use it, but it's there. I confess ignorance about what kind of range or cost per mile such vehicle achieve?
But, if I understand it correctly, pumping and storing CNG is a far cry from doing the same with hydrogen. So different I gather that comparing the too isn't valid.
Posted by kw | September 24, 2008 1:33 PM
Posted on September 24, 2008 13:33
This is a great idea and I hope more CNG stations will be built in the US to make vehicles like this a viable choice. A CNG/Hybrid makes sense to me. It has more cruising range than an electric car. We have an abundant amount of natural gas. And I like the idea of a hybrid because I do not want to use fuel while I am sitting still, be it on the road, in a drive thru, etc..
Toyota, can you say CNG/Hybrid Sequoia?
Posted by Keith | September 24, 2008 3:17 PM
Posted on September 24, 2008 15:17
Why not just have some kind of compressor and tank at your house? Could also just leave to fill overnight without the need for the tank.
Posted by Hangman | September 24, 2008 7:47 PM
Posted on September 24, 2008 19:47
not sure this is good or bad. already have gas, and diesel, and e85, and hydrogen, and batteries, and...(fill in the blank).
having 20 fuels does nothing to solve the problem. the solution is to get rid of petroleum based vehicles all together.
this is a pointless endeavor and the resources are better allocated to more long lasting solutions.
Posted by :/ | September 24, 2008 7:50 PM
Posted on September 24, 2008 19:50
Not pointless or bad... I don't know the numbers, but I'd say close to if not all inhabitable homes in the US has a CNG line run to the house already. Just get someone to come out and install your own refueling station. Give us as many options as possible that we can use without importing oil & exporting our money.
Posted by Gary | September 24, 2008 10:45 PM
Posted on September 24, 2008 22:45
the rest of the world has been using this for years.
Its much cleaner then petrol/Diesel, but still carbon based...
Still, with all the tech/service stations in place, Diesel (cleaned-up diesel) is winning....
My bet: Gas-electric hybrid (now), diesel-electric hybrid (+5 years), electric-diesel generator hybrid(+10-years), electric-fuel cell generator (+15 years).
Posted by lowest iq | September 25, 2008 1:38 AM
Posted on September 25, 2008 01:38
E85 was a failure from the get go. You can't produce enough E85 to fill all the needs of consumers. It was a good idea, just poorly planed. CNG is the future. We have enough natural gas to fuel all the needs of consumers and then some and it will be much cheaper to produce and then E85 and Gas.
Posted by SteelCity1981 | September 25, 2008 10:41 PM
Posted on September 25, 2008 22:41
I agree with all of you that E85 is really a corn subsidy. (Ethanol from experimental algae though seems very promising)
The US has one of the worlds LARGEST natural gas reserves in the world. The fuel is clean burning and was until recently relatively cheap. Its also a hell of a lot less environmentally damaging compared to drilling for oil. Finally, its located within the US and concentrated in California and Texas? Sounds nearly perfect huh?
However, a lot of people heat their homes with natural gas and a significant percentage of electricity is created with natural gas. If we all start using it in our cars, the price for heating and electricity will also rise.
Also, natural gas coming into your home isn't anywhere close to being a high enough pressure to actually fill a CNG car with. Also you don't want idiots filling up from some unregulated make-shift pump in their garage would you?
Posted by ElecEng | September 29, 2008 3:50 PM
Posted on September 29, 2008 15:50