Hybrid vs non hybrid economy in stop and go traffic?

I have been leaning toward hybrid purely for the increased economy as for me the regular engine has more than enough power. At face value the 2 mpg increase does not seem worth the cost given that I only drive around 7000 miles per year. (I do get that the Hybrid was developed to increase power and improve towing not to improve economy)

my question is this. I spend a huge amount of time in stop and go traffic. NYC. Long Island Expressway etc. Will the hybrid run on battery only when crawling along? I think I read somewhere that it will up to 18mph as long as you go easy on the throttle.

Am I correct in assuming this will lead to a significant fuel savings?

 

It’s going to be tough to get definite answers out there, as nobody has one yet. I’m with you in that I do a lot of city driving, and I’m assuming it will be a decent amount better.

Most car reviewers tend to take long road trips, accelerate hard, avoid heavy traffic, so it’s hard to judge commuting mpg based on their experience

 

Yeah, you are right. I guess I will just have to wait for some real world reviews. I have seen TRD Pros starting to pop up more often on you tube but as you say, not a lot of talk about real life mpg.

I am getting antsy as I really want to get an order in soon if I’m going to have any chance of getting a truck this year!!

 

The added cost to price tag of a hybrid is going to take a decade to recoup in the minimal fuel savings over the regular truck. It won't save you any money.

 

I hear you but It’s not just about saving money. If I can tool around in city traffic without the engine running that’s worth some extra cash to me just for the environmental impact…

 

That's understandable. You should look into the manufacture and recycle processes of the batteries and that environmental impact. There have been several regulations and such sold as environmentally friendly, but when viewed in totality they are worse than the original. EGRs, DEF, and ethanol in fuel are all prime examples. Electric/hybrid batteries are something worth researching.

 

Also, cheaper Tito’s and tacos.

 

The hybrid is designed for extra torque, not extra MPG. It's not a traditional hybrid system like a Prius. Think of it more like the Tundra's diesel equivalent.

But let's say you do get an extra 2 MPG (18 vs 20), at let's say $5/gallon to exaggerate and keep it simple, it needs to save you 600 gallons to breakeven, or 108,000 miles until you save the $3000 the hybrid costs over the TTV6.

 

I totally get that. What I’m wondering is how much gas I will be saving when I’m crawling along in stop and go traffic which these days is all I seem to do. If it runs Hybrid under 18 mph as I have seen mentioned that could add up.

 

In stop and go traffic, the hybrid should get much, much better fuel economy since you would be able to use the electric motor only. I know the Tundra's hybrid battery is a lot smaller, but I once got a solid half hour of stop-and-go driving in a Highlander hybrid, although it's pretty much unheard of for any non-PHEV hybrid battery to last that long.

 

Same principle that Toyota Group used in their Hino Hybrid trucks in their previous models. Built to add torque in certain situations. Definitely not a Prius type hybrid that can operate for long periods of time. It'll most likely benefit you if your truck is always loaded heavily or towing heavy. I'm considering one to be used as a camping rig or overloading rig but I have yet to find out how the batteries will charge after doing a lot of low speed driving on off road trails. I'm speculating when the batteries' charge falls below certain level, then, the hybrid system will stop working and all you have is the TTv6. So how long does it take to charge the batteries when engine is idling? Only time will tell from customers' experience unless Toyota gives us the info. It may not even be worth to get a hybrid for this type of truck use.

 

I think you're missing the point of the hybrid. Lamborghinis don't get better MPG because of their hybrid system, it's a purely performance-based system. You're not going to get a drastic amount of extra MPG. You're buying the wrong vehicle if MPG is a concern for you. Just look at the MPG estimates Toyota is providing:

TTV6: 18 city, 24 highway
Hybrid: 20 city, 24 highway

That's 11.1% better in the city, and I don't see it getting any much higher than that. Even if it's 25% better and you're only ever driving in the city, you're looking at 22.5mpg. Using the same math I used above, that means instead of breaking even in 108,000 miles, you'll break even in 54,000 miles. And I don't see it getting 25% better MPG..

Really the answer is just to buy whichever drivetrain you want. If you want more torque, get the Hybrid. Do you want to not have to worry about maintaining a hybrid system or just knock off $3k in your purchase price? Get the TTV6. Are you worried about MPG? Get a Prius.

 

@HMNYC I have some questions, if you don't mind answering them. Just trying to get a feel for what your needs and wants are before I put my foot in my mouth. I'm guessing from your avatar you haul a dirt bike or two, but more info would be helpful.

1. What's the primary use of the truck going to be?
2. How much will it be off pavement, and how severe will those situations be?
3. How much weight do you tow?
4. How often do you tow?

 

Check out this video at approx 8 min mark. Truck King guys started their Tacoma to Tundra road trip & have a TRD pro ( pre production model) they said around town running errand it spent a lot of time running electric only..

https://youtu.be/HIOv3MZdb0Q

 

Here's the above video at the timestamp of where he talks about it.


https://youtu.be/HIOv3MZdb0Q?t=484

 

Correct, mostly motorcycle hauling. Dirt bikes, track bikes, street bikes. Also we do a tonne of mountain biking. At the moment I pull a trailer which in NYC is a huge pain in the ass. I am restricted from using certain tunnels etc with a trailer. For my dirt bike I can make do with a versahauler but the other bikes no. I Am also looking into getting a small camper trailer but for now we just tent camp. Payload wise would be perfectly fine with a midsize but we seem to haul an awful lot of stuff wherever we go and I don’t fit in a Tacoma. Ridgeline makes perfect sense but my wife doesn’t like it. Off road is minimal but give me more capacity and I will do more exploring. I do regularly drive on the beach. My favorite vehicle to date has been a 2014 4 Runner which the new Tundra will significantly outperform mileage wise. Driving a 2013 Highlander right now.

 

Ah, good info. If you weren't planning on any major towing and didn't need to haul more than a bike or two without major off roading, I would have suggested the little Ford Maverick. I think they've filled a great void that has been left with the midsize trucks all getting larger and the rangers/tacos of old being harder to come by. The payload on it is actually pretty impressive for what it is, but it isn't going to be rock crawling or anything like that. Based on what you are saying the bed size would be the big killer for it, though if you are looking at a camp trailer that would kind of nullify the argument against trailering the bikes, wouldn't it?

Either way, I dig the Maverick as a commuter style rig with good economy, smaller size for city use, and a bed that'll still let you haul a couch or a dirt bike with the tailgate down.

 

I like the Maverick as well, great truck but pre sold for at least a year and too small for our needs. I love the Tundra. Loved driving it. My wife loved driving it. Love the look of it. All good. I just want to make sure I get the most efficient option.

 

Thank you! That is exactly what I was looking for.

 

Oh, wow. Didn't know they were that far out. Sounds like you've researched and tested really well. Good on you for that. So many people come on here after buying to complain that the truck didn't have X, Y, or Z feature that they assumed was standard, or that the payload doesn't accommodate the 47 and a half foot, quadruple slide out, rolling condo 5th wheel they want. It's refreshing to see a well planned and researched approach.

 

Ha. Thank you. I've been lurking on the 3rd gen threads since Toyota announced the new Tundra. Have test driven an SR5 and a Platnum and I've watched every TFL, TRD John and Pick Up Truck SUV talk You tube video I could find. My kid and wife are sick of hearing me talk about Tundras. I somehow missed the Truck King video but their trip looks to be exactly the comparison I have been looking for!

 

I think the hybrid will help you a lot in stop and go traffic. I used to live in NYC commuting between LI. I know what it’s like, especially early morning on the LIE.

First, the AC runs off the high voltage system so it’s much more efficient and can run with the engine off. Not the case in the non-hybrid which will use extra fuel to power the AC compressor. Same goes for the heat so it’ll help in both summer and winter seasons.

And second, you definitely can run this vehicle at much higher speeds than 18 mph in electric only. The system is a parallel hybrid system which means the electric motor can operate in a similar range as the engine. As long as there is enough motor torque to overcome the driving resistances, you should be able to keep the engine off. I’ve seen videos of the Tundra hybrid cruising at 30 mph with the engine off. However, the battery capacity is small so it will get depleted in short distance and the engine will run to recharge it. But it does recharge during braking which helps to recuperate some lost energy. So you should be able to drive efficiently in stop and go traffic vs. the non-hybrid.

The hybrid is more expensive as others have mentioned but there are so many benefits over the non-hybrid other than just fuel economy.

 

Thank you! That’s great info!