Hybrid conversion???

[AU Kruzr]

I'm keenly that my beloved cruiser gets pathetic gas mileage. I've also seen several posts from the vets here regarding a diesal conversion as the only potential upgrade to counter the $4/gallon we'll be paying this summer.

So my question to those that are lucky enough to be mechanically inclined is this... Since Toyota now has a hybrid for the Highlander, what are the possibiities of doing a conversion for a cruiser?

Toyo claims 31 mpg but the website has a small disclaimer stating the 2wd & 4wd "are not designed to be driven off-road?" Why??.

They also claim 208 hp from the gas engine (my stock 97 cruiser only produces 205, right???).

I gotta believe that we'll see a hybrid for the new cruisers (w/more ponies for the added weight (and when that day hits I'll be ready to convert, shouldn't I???)

 

[alaskacruiser]

Believe it or not, this has been discussed! See this thread:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=56753&highlight=hybrid

 

[RavenTai]

a full hybrid system conversion would be quite dificult and expensive, far outweighing any fuel saved, the install would be less than factory quality and most likely have problems.

Hybrids really do well in stop and go city driving where braking energy is recaptured insted of being wasted as heat in the rotors. on highway the saving are not that great.

so in the end you will wind up with a heavier cruiser with less realiabily and a much ligher wallet.

the add on linked above may not be so bad but I still do not think it is worth your time.

all vehicles are compromises, no one can do all things, the 80 can do more than most, it is sturdy, safe, realiable, capable on and off road wile being comfortable and haveing a good bit of space,
it is heavy, has poor aerodynamics and a large heavy fuel eating drivetrain.

as much as we all woudl like it to it will never get gas milage like a small car, nothing is free.

 

[firetruck41]

I would guess any factory version retrofit would be underpowered, and a powerful fabricated system would be expensive. Best uneducated guess, plan any where from $10k to $100k+ depending on your abilities/suppliers/etc..