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Alternative fuel Toyota CNG Camry Hybrid Concept, fueled by natural gas, debuts at L.A. Auto Show
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America has gas and Toyota has a way to cure its ills, as demonstraed by the CNG-powered Camry Hybrid Concept debuteed at the Los Angeles Auto Show. CNG being compressed natural gas, something that the U.S. has much; using it to fuel automobiles has the potential of freeing the country of liquid petroleum requirements.
Natural gas is cleaner, with lower particulate emissions, nitrous oxide (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) and non-methane organic gases (NMOG). It also yields less CO2—the big global warming boogeyman—per unit of energy than gasoline.
The Toyota CNG Camry Hybrid Concept has a conventional piston engine that’s fueled by natural gas, plus the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive, as used in the production Camry Hybrid, Prius and other Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles.The CNG Camry Hybrid has a net horsepower rating (engine + electric motor + generator + power storage) of 170 horsepower. The CNG system is comprised of two composite “Type 4” tanks, which have a plastic liner and a carbon fiber wrapped exterior shell. The tanks are installed in the spare tire well area and capable of a maximum 3,600 psi. The tanks have a combined capacity of a proposed eight gallon equivalent.
The gasoline fuel system and tank were removed; the CNG Camry Hybrid is not capable of dual-fuel operation. Toyota notes that should the tank rupture or the system leak, the CNG “is quickly dispersed into the atmosphere,” thus apparently be a minimal safety concern.
With an estimated fuel economy of 32/34/33 mpg city/highway/combined (compared to 32/34/34 for the current gasoline-fueled Camry Hybrid), Toyota says the CNG Camry Hybrid should have a range of 250+ miles, which our abacus confirms.The CNG Camry Hybrid Concept was designed by the TMS Advanced Product Strategy group and built by Metal Crafters of Fountain Valley, California.
Because the Toyota CNG Camry Hybrid Concept is a concept car, it has to look different, so what Toyota describes as a “sleek custom front fascia and front bumper cover” (we’d say “bulbous”) replaces the conventional grille opening. Apparently the CNG Camry Hybrid can take in enough air under the front bumper for sufficient engine cooling. A custom rear bumper covers the tail pipe—it still has one, folks—and visible exhaust system.
The Hybrid is fitted with 19 x7.5” inch alloy wheels and Bridgestone Potenza 225/35ZR19 run-flat tires to accommodate the elimination of its spare tire. Toyota also lowered the chassis and added side skirts, and to make sure everyone notices, plastered “Compressed Natural Gas Hybrid” on the sides.
If there’s one drawback to the Toyota CNG Camry Hybrid at the moment, it’s a lack of infrastructure. In 1999, Toyota sold a CNG-fueled 4-cylinder Camry to fleet users in California, but the low price of gasoline and limited number of refueling stations—fewer than 1000 nationwide, with fewer than half open to the public—limited sales. The program was discontinued later that year.Natural gas is one of several possibilities for future vehicle power, which likely will be a mix of different systems. Toyota’s experimentation in the CNG Camry Hybrid is just one.
Illustrations, top to bottom: 2009 Toyota CNG Camry Hybrid; 2009 Toyota CNG Camry Hybrid Concept fuel tank in spare tire well area of trunk; Refueling 2009 Toyota CNG Camry Hybrid Concept; Toyota CNG Camry Hybrid Concept at refueling station. All photos courtesy Toyota Motor North America.
You might also be interested in: 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid; Toyota confirms - again - plans to build production plug-in hybrids; Mini E full-electric to debut at L.A. Auto Show; What is: Hybrid car terminology definitions; Chevy Volt charges out; 2011 production
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