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{consolidated thread} Toyota takes another look at CNG

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  • {consolidated thread} Toyota takes another look at CNG

    Awesome.




    Toyota decides to give natural-gas cars another chance

    By Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY
    PORTLAND

    PORTLAND, Ore. — Toyota will announce today that it is taking a new look at an alternative fuel that it had left behind: compressed natural gas.
    And Honda, the only maker now of a CNG-powered car, plans to make twice as many of those environmentally friendly Civics for the U.S. in 2009 as it did last year.
    Toyota says it will display a concept version of a CNG-electric hybrid Camry at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. Though it has made no commitment to production, the unveiling is tied to a burst of renewed interest.
    "With this concept, we are confirming our interest in pursuing CNG," says Irv Miller, a vice president for Toyota Motor Sales, the U.S. sales arm. He lauded CNG as cheaper than gasoline, low in emissions and more plentiful than oil. Data presented at a Toyota-sponsored conference here made the case for oil production declining faster than natural gas supplies, pointing to the need to look anew at the fuel.
    Toyota is "testing the waters," says John O'Dell, senior editor for Edmunds Green Car Advisor. "They want to be ready" if it looks like CNG will make a comeback.
    The announcement comes amid splashy, big-budget ad campaigns that have attempted to move natural gas off the energy back burner. Texas billionaire T. Boone Pickens has touted natural gas and wind power as the centerpieces of his "Pickens Plan" for energy independence. And Chesapeake Energy, one of the nation's largest natural-gas producers, has ads promoting CNG.
    Toyota's new look at natural gas "demonstrates there is a great deal of attention at progressive auto manufacturers who are looking at the opportunity to use a clean, abundant, affordable, American fuel," says Chesapeake Senior Vice President Tom Price.
    Several automakers, including Toyota, offered CNG-powered vehicles nearly a decade ago but quit when interest flagged. CNG-powered vehicles usually have less range than gas-powered vehicles and less trunk space because of the large fuel tanks.
    Also, there currently are only about 1,000 CNG fueling stations nationwide, half available to consumers.
    Yet high gasoline prices have spurred enough interest that Honda says its CNG-powered Civic GX has a wait of several months. It plans to make 2,000 next year. The Civic GX costs $25,090, nearly $7,000 more than the gasoline equivalent.
    The GX is mostly sold to fleet customers, except in California and New York, where it is sold to consumers. Demand jumped when gasoline prices rose, says spokesman Chris Martin.
    He says Honda is supportive of Toyota's renewed interest. "We think it helps acceptance" of natural gas to have more models available from all makers.

  • #2
    Re: USA Today - Toyota takes another look at CNG

    Excellent news! I sure hope there is enough interest from the public attending the cars shows. A combo cng/hybrid would be a car I would upgrade to and seriously consider. Hopefully the big 3 will follow up as well and come up with their own line of CNG vehicles.

    I was debating on attending the car show, I guess now I'll have to go.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: USA Today - Toyota takes another look at CNG

      Makes you wonder about the accuracy of reporting when it says, 'except in California and New York, where it is sold to consumers'. You know Utah's getting as many as possible, the dealership here was on the news and said they sold more GX's than any other dealership. I guess many Utahns shoot over to CA and pick them up too. But if they did ANY research, they'd know about Utah, but not one word????
      2000 Escalade (option 3 conversion) FOR SALE
      2004 F150 XLT (OEM conversion)
      2000 Camry (Awesome Car!!)

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      • #4
        Toyota To Display CNG-Powered Camry Hybrid Concept At 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show

        BLUE 09 GX

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        • #5
          Re: USA Today - Toyota takes another look at CNG

          Awesome Great News!
          I have not attended any LA Auto Show in years, but now i can't wait to see that car
          Mario
          AAA CNG SYSTEMS
          CSA Certified CNG Cylinder & Fuel System Inspector

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          • #6
            Re: USA Today - Toyota takes another look at CNG

            Wow, I'm so there if they don't strip that car down into a fleet version (think 2 speakers and no GPS), would be nice to have some range and have some power too. I wonder how much more expensive the cost of ownership would be on a car like this.

            Edit: Just thought how nice it would be if LNG was offered at all the places that CNG currently is because an LNG + hybrid electric car would be slightly more practical I think (think trunk space).
            Last edited by ieko; 09-24-2008, 11:14 PM.

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            • #7
              Re: USA Today - Toyota takes another look at CNG

              Now if we can just get Chrysler to revisit the Powerbox. Then produce it.

              Comment


              • #8
                Toyota Camry CNG hybrid electric coming soon

                Toyota is set to roll out the world’s first vehicle powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) and electricity as part of a drive to expand its line-up of hybrid vehicles.

                http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1f51b258-8...nclick_check=1

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                • #9
                  Re: USA Today - Toyota takes another look at CNG

                  Originally posted by Yroc View Post
                  Makes you wonder about the accuracy of reporting when it says, 'except in California and New York, where it is sold to consumers'. You know Utah's getting as many as possible, the dealership here was on the news and said they sold more GX's than any other dealership. I guess many Utahns shoot over to CA and pick them up too. But if they did ANY research, they'd know about Utah, but not one word????
                  But isn't it technically against Honda's rules to sell retail in Utah?

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Toyota Camry CNG hybrid electric coming soon

                    Originally posted by Harpoon View Post
                    Toyota is set to roll out the world’s first vehicle powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) and electricity as part of a drive to expand its line-up of hybrid vehicles.

                    http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1f51b258-8...nclick_check=1
                    The article posted earlier states that the Camry CNG hybrid is only a concept and they haven't committed to production.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: {consolidated thread} Toyota takes another look at CNG

                      Great idea --

                      However, too bad this beast of a car only gets 34 mpg in its petrol incarnation, about the same as a GX

                      Also, trunk space is already limited in the current hybrid, I can't imagine what adding a CNG tank will do to it!

                      Still I applaud this effort, and November can't get here soon enough!

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: {consolidated thread} Toyota takes another look at CNG

                        HHHmm I posted several times about a camry hybrid cng over a year ago on different message boards including cng chat and it's at the top of my wish list. I wonder if someone at Toyota was reading cng chat and found my post and ripped off my idea? Oh well it's about time someone figured this out.

                        Now if they add a plug in EV option and build a home fueling device to compete with the FMQ2 36. I'll buy 2 Watch out Toyota is gonna take over cng and pass Honda and leave them in the dust.

                        A cng camry is bigger quieter and roomier than the honda. I love my CNG camry. I hope they keep the 11gge tank!!!

                        I also posted a while back that Clean Diesel is going to be the next big push by the auto mfg's VW is going to release the 70 mpg diesel hybrid!!!! The public will buy into 70mpg vs a 35 mpg cng because most people are too stupid to do the math and will buy 70MPG vs 35mpg.

                        If cng is $1 @ home and diesel $4 at the pump. 35mpg x4 = 1 gallon of diesel @$4 140mpg cng diesel equivalent cost. CNG is a no brainer plus almost zero emissions

                        FYI Honda is also going diesel on the accord and Toyota on the Camry as well plus there is talk about a Diesel Prius!!!!
                        Last edited by camryman; 10-08-2008, 02:12 AM.

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                        • #13
                          Re: {consolidated thread} Toyota takes another look at CNG

                          Originally posted by camryman View Post
                          Now if they add a plug in EV option and build a home fueling device to compete with the FMQ2 36.
                          I doubt they'd go with a plug-in version of the camry, especially on a CNG variety. They would ahve to seriously upsize the battery to make the plug-in worth it, and that space usage would conflict with the extra storage space required by the CNG. Weight would also start to be a pretty big concern.
                          1997 Factory Crown Victoria w/ extended tanks ~~ Clunkerized!
                          2000 Bi-Fuel Expedition --> ~~ Sold ~~ <--

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                          • #14
                            Re: {consolidated thread} Toyota takes another look at CNG

                            If you decrease the cng tank size, take out the spare tire, and add run flat tires the plug in could work. The new super prius in 2010 will be plug in.

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                            • #15
                              Re: {consolidated thread} Toyota takes another look at CNG

                              I believe in the U.S. manufactures are required to provide a spare tire in all new cars. Hence the donut temporary spare tire when space is limited
                              Mario
                              AAA CNG SYSTEMS
                              CSA Certified CNG Cylinder & Fuel System Inspector

                              Comment

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