Toyota Has Natural Gas in Mind with CNG Camry Hybrid & Yaris

Toyota is showing a renewed interest in compressed natural gas (CNG), and as the world’s largest automaker that’s a good thing. CNG is an appealing motor fuel in many respects. The primary attraction is that CNG is a cleaner fuel than gasoline, diesel, and even propane. It produces less CO2, carbon monoxide, non-methane organic gases, particulate emissions, and nitrous oxide emission compared to gasoline. A shift to CNG would also lessen dependence on petroleum from foreign sources.

Recent auto show displays have highlighted CNG fuel in two new custom concept cars. The first was a custom 2009 Yaris hatchback that appeared in the corporate Toyota booth at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. At first glance the Yaris looked like a well-executed tuner car; with a custom body kit coated with metallic green paint and lowered suspension on aftermarket wheels and tires. A walk around the back, however, revealed a CNG tank and custom enclosure beneath the power hatch. The system is designed as a bi-fuel conversion that can run either gasoline or CNG at the touch of a button.

We would normally pass the Yaris off as an aberration, but a few weeks later Toyota had another surprise waiting at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Here, Toyota unveiled a CNG powered version of the Camry Hybrid. While customized and labeled a concept, this car’s mission is to illustrate the versatility of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system.

Chris Hostetter, group vice president of TMS Advanced Product Strategy, made Toyota’s position on the future of CNG clear: “In the near future, growing demand for liquid petroleum simply and effectively will exceed supply. Before that occurs, automakers must look to vehicles powered by alternative fuels. We believe CNG will be one of those alternatives.”

Designed by TMS, the CNG Camry was built by renowned automotive fabricator Metal Crafters in Fountain Valley, California. The conversion process replaced the gasoline fuel tank, lines, and injection with a pair of CNG tanks mounted in a carbon fiber enclosure in the spare tire well area.

To lend a sleek look, Metal Crafters formed a custom front fascia that eliminates the standard grille openings and wraps smoothly over the bumper to a three-slot lower air dam duct. The rear sports a matching wrapped bumper treatment with a pair of ground effects style openings in the rear apron area. The tailpipe is concealed for a cleaner appearance. Metal Crafters also lowered the car for a ground-hugging look and fitted Bridgestone Potenza P225/35ZR19 run-flat tires mounted on 19x7.5 inch alloy wheels.

The CNG Camry Hybrid and Yaris bi-fuel custom aren’t Toyota’s first ventures into compressed natural gas. The company produced CNG powered Camry sedans for fleets in 1999, discontinuing the program a year later due to low gasoline costs and a limited refueling infrastructure at the time. Clearly, CNG is back on Toyota’s radar and appears to be a front-runner in a move toward cleaner alternative fuels. Here’s hoping that Toyota joins Honda, which produces the natural gas Civic GX, and offer a production CNG hybrid not only to fleets, but consumers as well.