http://www.caranddriver.com/carnews/13300/spied-2009-toyota-sequoia.html
What about a 4runner hybrid...although, could you take a hybrid offroad?
What about a 4runner hybrid...although, could you take a hybrid offroad?
seqouia hybrid???
- Thread starter jwyshrek
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Why couldn't you take a hybrid off road? 
Electric motors usually have good torque figures, so it might even help. Plus, they're so quiet...it'll be so peaceful when you're tearing up the rocks. 
But I wouldn't buy a hybrid SUV right now unless they can get the MPG's to 60+. Otherwise it's not worth the extra $$. I once calculated how cost effective the Lexus RX400h would be over the regular 350. Driving 20k miles per year, you'd have to drive the hybrid for 8 years before you start seeing benefits of the cost savings from the more "gas efficient" engine.
Electric motors usually have good torque figures, so it might even help. Plus, they're so quiet...it'll be so peaceful when you're tearing up the rocks. But I wouldn't buy a hybrid SUV right now unless they can get the MPG's to 60+. Otherwise it's not worth the extra $$. I once calculated how cost effective the Lexus RX400h would be over the regular 350. Driving 20k miles per year, you'd have to drive the hybrid for 8 years before you start seeing benefits of the cost savings from the more "gas efficient" engine.
Uneek
Super Moderator
p nut said:Why couldn't you take a hybrid off road?
IIRC, an article on the RX400h, it mentioned Lexus recommended against off-road because it would overheat the motors. But I would agree with toto, the motors are designed to be operated for short periods not to deplete the battery completely. Which is probably why Toyota/Lexus doesn't recommend running the Hybrid Synergy Drive system without gas.
Hybrid offroad
It's also a very big concern that you will damage part of the hybrid system. For example, next time you get a chance, look underneath the Toyota Highlander hybrid. You will see alot of the parts that convert the braking to electrical power very exposed. There are several cables and very delicate parts exposed. If you were to just drive on a dirt road, you might run a risk of throwing a rock into them. If you did any serious off roading, then more than likely you would just drag them over something.
You also have a big issue the main battery compartment. On the Toyota, there is an issue with total submersion. The main battery pack which is still NIMH on most hybrids generates a good bit of heat when charging. That heat has to be ported and thus the compartment can't be totally sealed. The individual batteries can be but not the compartment. If they switch to LI for the batteries, then this issue gets even worse as LI batteries can get very hot when charging and cause problems, note all the laptop battery recalls of recent.
As for overheating, I don't get that part as the system relies on you using the brake to generate the charge. You don't charge any other way that I know of. So if you are driving off road and using the brake alot (you might want to consider lowrange), but again most of the SUV's that have a hybrid option don't offer a true gearing low range.
Toyota has a large disclaimer on their website and all literature, Hybrids are not to be driven off road.
They haven't build a hardened hybrid yet, but they could.
Paul C
It's also a very big concern that you will damage part of the hybrid system. For example, next time you get a chance, look underneath the Toyota Highlander hybrid. You will see alot of the parts that convert the braking to electrical power very exposed. There are several cables and very delicate parts exposed. If you were to just drive on a dirt road, you might run a risk of throwing a rock into them. If you did any serious off roading, then more than likely you would just drag them over something.
You also have a big issue the main battery compartment. On the Toyota, there is an issue with total submersion. The main battery pack which is still NIMH on most hybrids generates a good bit of heat when charging. That heat has to be ported and thus the compartment can't be totally sealed. The individual batteries can be but not the compartment. If they switch to LI for the batteries, then this issue gets even worse as LI batteries can get very hot when charging and cause problems, note all the laptop battery recalls of recent.
As for overheating, I don't get that part as the system relies on you using the brake to generate the charge. You don't charge any other way that I know of. So if you are driving off road and using the brake alot (you might want to consider lowrange), but again most of the SUV's that have a hybrid option don't offer a true gearing low range.
Toyota has a large disclaimer on their website and all literature, Hybrids are not to be driven off road.
They haven't build a hardened hybrid yet, but they could.
Paul C
MAC4Runner
New member
Hybrids and off-road do not mix. :bash:
Electric motors, produce great on demand torque but, cannot withstand a constant load. We have a RX400h in the family and you could armor plate it and I would not take it off-road. You will never see a true off-road hybrid, unless you definition of off-road is dirt paths and fire roads. That said, a hybrid Sequoia makes sense as most see very little off pavement duty.
Electric motors, produce great on demand torque but, cannot withstand a constant load. We have a RX400h in the family and you could armor plate it and I would not take it off-road. You will never see a true off-road hybrid, unless you definition of off-road is dirt paths and fire roads. That said, a hybrid Sequoia makes sense as most see very little off pavement duty.
