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Hybrid Vehicles Toyota Highlander Hybrid Towing with the Highlander Hybrid
84 messages, Last post on Sep 16, 2009 at 1:27 PM
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Replying to: igh (Oct 03, 2005 1:34 pm) 3950lbs, the HH weighs 4250lbs. Unfortunately the extra battery and electric drive train adds weight. A plug-in using the I4 can be possible within 4300 lbs." Thanks for the update, but Edmunds lists the FWD model at a Curb Weight: 4070 lbs, AWD at 4245 lbs. I will modify my statement to include RH400 and HH: "If you want really high MPG, don't buy a 4000-4500 lb vehicle, with large frontal section and large V6 engine, and then expect MPG like a Prius. Buy a 2900 lb Prius. There is no substitute for lighter weight and smaller engine size." I must disagree on the concept of multiple sources of power in the context of this discussion. The Prius achieves it's MPG based on small engine size coupled with the HSD supplementing the power of the ICE. Since both the sedan and the SUV use the same powertrain, it is not a factor in the comparison. If you want high MPG, you need to think smaller, less frontal section, and lighter. (and going slower at highways speeds). I am not saying the HH or RH400 are bad vehicles their design purpose; on the contrary they are excellent designs. I am saying that their primary purpose is not high MPG, and people should not expect high MPG. Better than in ICE only SUV, yes, but not on on the same order as a smaller sedan. I mention this because I keep seeing posts from people who are displeased at their MPG, when in fact they are getting MPG within an expected range for this class of vehicle. People keep seeing "hybrid" and yet they only understand "high MPG". MPG is relative to the engine size (and tuning), the frontal area, and the weight of the vehicle - in short, the vehicle class.
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Replying to: stevedebi (Oct 03, 2005 3:10 pm) (See thread) The 3500 and 3950 lb weights mentioned are for the non-hybrid highlanders. A plug-in highlander hybrid can have effective gas mileage of 100 mpg. A plug-in Prius can have effective gas mileage of 150-200 mpg. I do not know if 100 mpg is good enough for you. If not then HH will not be an option. A hybrid vehicle is more efficient than a pure ICE vehicle but all the energy comes from gas. This is not a long term solution as gas will run out. A plug-in vehicle gets its energy from external electric grid and gas - hence multiple sources of energy. If gas can be replaced with bio-fuel then it becomes a long term solution. Once all the sources of energy that you use are renewable and eco-friendly (solar and bio-fules) it is not necessary to be very efficient in its use. There is enough solar energy in this world to meet global energy needs 1000 times over. |
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Replying to: stevedebi (Oct 03, 2005 10:52 am) Look at all the RX300 and RX330 clear majority of customers who are perfectly happy with the ~200 HP V6 in those. Yes, there are a few of those will be thrilled with the extra BOOST of 268 HP, but wouldn't the majority of us, even pre-$3 gas prices, have been happy with less HP and stellar fuel economy? Personally I think I'll pass on the Rx400h until Toyota wise's up and converts to the atkinson cycle. Or I find a custom cam grinding shop, grind the heads down to 13:1 compression, and do it myself. Or just thow a KGE3500Ti genset in the back and continously charge the hybrid batteries more economically, dramatically moreso, than the OEM ICE. |
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Replying to: dalemed (Sep 29, 2005 1:52 pm) Back to the original questions - I tow a ~3000lb tailer behind my 4wd. It is a Shadow Cruiser 189FBR, dual axle. The trailer tows very smoothly behind the Highlander. My only complaint is there seems to be towing mirrors available for the Highlander (except the generic ones that don't look or work very well). My only trip so far has been into the mountains about 100 miles from home. I got about 15mpg on that part of the tank while towing. The electric doesn't kick in much on the level, mostly is used for more power on hills, so you don't get many 'free' miles out of it. I got the 4wd for occasional snow, not for towing, but I assume it can't hurt to have the extra HP and traction for towing. I doubt you could get 20mpg under almost any situation while towing. The 15mpg I got was mostly 55mph to 30mph. Jim |
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Replying to: jslate (Oct 11, 2005 9:59 am) Anyone else getting this? Anyone know where the sensor for the CC is?
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Replying to: gazguzler (Oct 11, 2005 1:47 pm) Instead of warming for 30 seconds, the engine stays on longer now. It also comes on twice more in the 3.5 mile drive to the freeway. I used to be able to nurse it on electric all the way to the freeway without the engine, no longer true. Each 30-sec burn eats up 0.2 MPG. Each >30-sec burn (1 min?) eats up 0.3 MPG. So in our 3.5 mile trek on a cold morning, after a total of 3 burns, we are losing 1 MPG due to engine warm-up. I read somewhere it is warming not just the CC but also the engine oil. Because the engine has to turn ON and OFF instantaneously without some sort of pre-spin (idle), the engine oil needs to be warmed properly to protect the engine when it spins up to high RPM to provide power. if I can find the source again, will post this info. |
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Replying to: gazguzler (Oct 11, 2005 1:47 pm) |
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Replying to: jslate (Oct 11, 2005 9:59 am)
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Replying to: gone2fish (May 16, 2006 12:13 pm) http://www.hihychat.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=85 |
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Replying to: gone2fish (May 16, 2006 12:13 pm) http://www.hihychat.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=85 |
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