Diesel Hybrids Are On Their Way

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Channel4 reports that VW is set to unveil a "near-production" diesel-electric Golf at The Geneva International Auto Show. The battery-assisted oil-burner caims 70mpg while passing 50-state Tier-2 BIN 5 emissions standards. Not to be outgreened, Wired reports that BMW will ta-da its Vision EfficientDynamics Concept. The modded next gen X5 sports a 36mpg twin turbo diesel-electric drivetrain hooked-up to an eight-speed ZF autobox. (The Bimmer concept also boasts photovoltaic panels on the moonroof to preheat the transmission fluid and wheels that require one less horsepower to maintain 100mph than "standard" wheels.) As previously editorialized, the new diesel hybrids signal the end of German automakers' participation in the two-mode hybrid technology jointly developed with Chrysler and GM. Bottom line: BMW's hybrid diesel sips half the gas of a 3.0-liter X5; the Yukon Tahoe hybrid offers a 25 percent mpg gain.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Frontline Frontline on Feb 25, 2008

    I always believed that there was some merrit in a "clean" tiny diesel generator running at a steady rpm that could keep the batteries charged .

  • Robert Schwartz Robert Schwartz on Feb 25, 2008

    "the new diesel hybrids signal the end of German automakers' participation in the two-mode hybrid technology jointly developed with Chrysler and GM" I don't know why there is any incompatibility between diesel and two mode hybrid. As I understood it, the two mode concept was first applied to crosstown buses.

  • Anonymous Anonymous on Feb 25, 2008

    I was wondering when we would get diesel hybrids. Sounds like it's soon.

  • Wheatridger Wheatridger on Feb 25, 2008

    Great news to my household, which just obtained its second VW TDI. For me, one big problem with current hybrids is that they use any gas at all. I much prefer diesel fuel for its lack of VOC emissions, its relative inflammability in an accident, and most of all, for its easy compatibility with biofuel blends. Biofuels have been getting a bad rap lately based on the energy economics of corn ethanol, but soy biodiesel boasts returns 2.5 times its energy inputs to produce, according to National Geographic's biofuels article of 10/07. That fact bears repeating in this context, IMHO.

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