Toyota announced its intentions to present during November’s Los Angeles Auto Show its newest hybrid concept CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) Camry.

The engine uses just the natural gas instead of gasoline to power the vehicle and Mr. Irv Miller, group vice president for corporate communications, explained that the project presents a lot of potential due to the fact that the development of the CNG infrastructure is way ahead of that of hydrogen, with a constantly growing national supply network that now stands at about 1.8 million miles of pipeline throughout the country. Another plus is the fact that the CNG is not dependant on imports or any upcoming results from research on new refining methods.

Even though at this point there are only about 1,000 CNG refueling stations across the country, with less than 500 opened to the public, they are still a lot more numerous than the ones with hydrogen and there are plans for building many more. This infrastructure challenge is being encountered by all companies looking to offer an alternative to the traditionally gasoline fueled cars, as aside from the massive costs demanded by the research, they must also invest in these fueling stations, transportation and advertising.

Another problem is the fact that these cars are not cheap. Without a doubt there are millions of drivers who would jump at the chance of spending less money on fuel and also millions who would like an eco friendly vehicle. I for one am very interested in both aspects, but unfortunately the implications of such a purchase are too many at this point. The funds invested for several years in such a research must be returned, the people involved in the projects must be compensated, the new product must be properly promoted and all these aspects lead to a price that is considered out of reach for many people.

Toyota attempted a similar campaign in 1999 with its CNG-fueled Camry, but at the time the low gasoline prices directed the public’s attention to other models, leading to the series’ manufacturing annulment. The innovative idea brought by the new model is the combination of the two technologies for the first time – the CNG technology with the hybrid-electric features – which just might spark a lot more interest than before.

In an effort to make its offers more attractive, Toyota also announced lower prices for the Prius hybrids replacement battery packs. A first generation Prius replacement battery costs $2,299 and the second generation model now costs $2,588. The price cut was possible through a partnership with Panasonic which managed to lower the price with about $400.

A lot more details about the car are expected during the LA Auto Show, in addition to the information about the company’s plans for the future, which include a plug-in electric vehicle in 2009 and an all-electric commuter car “in the early 2010s.” Considering the fact that Toyota has big plans for this segment, looking to produce models on a much bigger scale than before and also to ensure a nationwide support through stations and other services, we should embrace its initiative and hope for a quick and successful development process.