2016 Low Speed Torque

He said 'Steam Engine era.'


Full torque from a dead stop.

 

Does the 2nd gen have a cable throttle?

 

Yup.

Blue often starts in pseudo fact though. It's like a challenge trying to find which angle he is going from. Which is DEEZUL FOR PREZ.

The funny thing is his explanation of why trains went to Diesel is complete BS. At the time of the swap steam engines were actually more powerful than their Diesel counterparts. The switch was motivated by the lower operating cost of the Diesel engine because of the less complex power plant. Steam boilers in a moving machine require a ton of maintenance, not to mention the risk of explosions was real when making peak power. Less people necessary to run a Diesel engine and less danger lead directly to the replacement of Steam engines.

Just to stir the pot, electric engines are far more powerful than Diesel engines. Even a Diesel electric hybrid is a tinker toy for power compared to what a pure electric setup of the same weight could pull. Electricity FTMFW!

 

The 4.0L in a 4Runner with a five speed in a heavier vehical gets one fewer mpg then the new Taco. It may not be that way in actual driving......but a 6 speed and direct injection and whatever but screw the Atkinson crap.....should be close. And, it should be more FFPM .....more freak'n fun per mile.

 

The electric motor was a substitute for the transmission. A transmission for a Diesel engine pulling a freight train would have to be bigger then practical. It is a match that has past the rest of time, so practical that even nuclear powered vessels still use the basic series hybrid concept with electric drive motors still.

 

The Diesel Electric hybrid design most trains run is perfect because it gives maximum torque down low (now where have we heard that argument before) and is relatively efficient. My point was that a pure electric design would allow for more power per wheel given the weight limitations on most tracks. That's partially why Europe is trying to switch everything, even freight, to electric trains. The other is, of course, the massive efficiency gain when implemented properly and simplicity of operation with the Diesel engine removed from the picture..

 

I think we are debating the same thing.....a transmission can also make a motor deliver it's maximum torque at the wheels down low.....all ice motors were made that way and the abundance of fuel and ease and safety of diesels made them a no brainier. Diesels can and have been used with out electric drive in ships for years because the transmission is not an issue as the prop pitch effectively becomes the transission when possible.

Diesels with long haul have transmissions because the loads are much lighter. They could just as easily be made with electric drive motors but that would be less efficient. It's all about the electric motors replacing the transmission. I think most don't think that way but if you research the original development, that was the line of thinking.

 

It is easier in Europe to make railways electrified becasue of the proimity of electric power to rail lines. It is much harder here move freight that way and diesel / electric series hybrids will be around for a long time. Diesel long haul will also be. At some pount when electric generation is miniaturized,IMHO, you will then see series hybrid in long haul...but the diesel will still be the power plant.o

 

I drive a 2008 4x4 v6 ac mt and test drove a 2016 4x4 dc mt and it's lethargic at the low end as you describe. I'm assuming it's the Atkinson cycle that's torque lazy and once you get it revved up and out of that mode its fine. The new Tacoma has a lot of pros but the engine was a deal breaker for me as well.

 

Yes, that was the original thinking. We are on the same page

 

Harder, but more efficient. It's like anything else. The conversion will be a function of time and technology versus energy costs. Europe is trying to go to natural gas, however that opens up a whole problem with Russia controlling the supply.

Everyone said CFL bulbs would never catch on, and now in NA they dominate even though old fashioned bulbs are still around.

 

ha ha Right

I think engines from both exceed 2016 Toyota Tacoma payload and towing capacity.
However, if you find steam engine that can fit under the hood of Tacoma and have meaningful torque you can probably can get Nobel prize.
Heck if you can build steam engine that fits under that hood and has more torque than diesel there would be long line of people wanting to buy that thing. I have firewood, I have water get me a steam powered Tacoma

 

Diesel / electric hybrid

 

Glad you mentioned natural gas. We are stuck with long haul for the foreseeable future because of how much in disarray our rails have become. Natural gas can be a clean solution for diesel conversion that we need in the interim. If there was a concerted effort to make these conversions, that could be a driving force to see diesel power in many small trucks. The pollution controls would be much cheaper and easier. I think It has great potential but the infrastructure for now, stands in the way.