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Seems like diesels engines provide better efficiency, so why don't we see more diesel-electric hybrid vehicles coming out? Seems like a natural marriage. Some European manufacturers have tried (Citroen & Peugeot), but otherwise the pickings seem pretty thin....
I have had same question for many years (when Prius came out).
Now I came to accept that:
1) lack of popularity of diesel engines explains the lack of technology here in USA
2) the popularity of diesels in Europe and their low consumption, it does not make sense for most consumers to spend extra $$$ to get a battery/motor
Since diesel engine is more expensive, by the time you add the hybrid expense (battery, electric motor, etc) it will be a very expensive car - with very few potential customers that can afford it. Plus it makes little sense since the ROI is not there when compared to very efficient gas or diesel engines.
In general I believe that electric & hybrid technology is just a niche market which does not make sense for most consumers. Even the "tree huggers" should realize that using the more expensive electric cars moves the pollution from the streets to more usage of coal/nuclear/gas plants plus creates a huge problem with damping of dead car batteries.
I wished we had more diesel engines here in USA, which I think are a much better (less expensive) option when compared to limited hybrids and electric cars (and dreadful battery disposal).
I am happy to see Mazda bringing a new one: Skyactiv 2.2L twin turbo, hope to see more manufacturers offering diesel engines in USA in the future.
Mazda's revolutionary Skyactiv Diesel Engines use a self cleaning or renewal DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) which burns off diesel particulates rather than storing in a replaceable DP Filter or urea add like many other makes.
In the US diesel cars don't really make much sense in most parts of the country. Diesel fuel in many areas (like mine) is roughly 10%-20% higher. In addition, because of all the emissions standards here in the US, diesel fuel economy is much less than that of the counterpart produced in another country (ie Europe).
Finally, the big one - the diesel smell you get when you finally find a station selling diesel fuel. Stays on clothes/hands for a long time.
Diesel engine is expensive
Diesel emissions control in the US is very expensive.
Diesel emissions in a start/stop environment are extremely difficult to clean up.
A gasoline engine running atkinson cycle (AKA almost all current hybrids) is nearly as efficient as a diesel engine. The drawback of the atkinson cycle compared to the otto cycle (most other gasoline engines) is lack of low end torque. Hybrids use their electric motor to make up for the lack of torque.
Hybrids are expensive. Diesels are expensive. Combine them together and you've got very expensive. Additionally, diesels don't like to be cycled on and off. Finally, both diesels and electric motors provide lots of low-end torque but not so much high-end power/torque so they don't complement each other as well as an electric motor and a petrol engine tuned to deliver more of its power and run more efficiently at the high end.
Diesel hybrids make sense in a series application -- that is, the diesel acts as a generator to provide electricity which is then converted into forward motion. This is basically what a train locomotive is, and this is also the setup used in hybrid buses. But as a parallel hybrid where both motors are driving the wheels in a passenger car, it doesn't make sense.
> Diesel emissions in a start/stop environment are extremely difficult to clean up.
I thought that you should not start/stop diesels. But recently in Europe I drove a diesel that turned off with the car stationary. This was a manual- engine started when you pushed in the clutch. Strange experience, but it seemed to work fine.
With that sort of diesel technology- I'm guessing the mileage would be very good. Once you get to 40-50 MPG it's probably not worth the money to get more improvement (at least not right now).
A straight mechanical (manual or automatic) Diesel drive is very hard to beat when you compare cost, fuel use and performance. A diesel powered hybrid would probably have the best efficiency and performance but very high and cost complexity.
Hybrid vehicles use Lithium based battery technology. Is there a technical difficulty recycling and remanufacturing these batteries. Almost all the Lead and sulfuric acid in conventional batteries is already recycled.
A straight mechanical (manual or automatic) Diesel drive is very hard to beat when you compare cost, fuel use and performance. A diesel powered hybrid would probably have the best efficiency and performance but very high and cost complexity.
Hybrid vehicles use Lithium based battery technology. Is there a technical difficulty recycling and remanufacturing these batteries. Almost all the Lead and sulfuric acid in conventional batteries is already recycled.
Actually Toyota has the most hybrids on the road and they are all nickel metal hydride batteries... except for the new, very low volume PI Prius...
In general I believe that electric & hybrid technology is just a niche market which does not make sense for most consumers. Even the "tree huggers" should realize that using the more expensive electric cars moves the pollution from the streets to more usage of coal/nuclear/gas plants plus creates a huge problem with damping of dead car batteries.
Li batteries are easily recycled. They don't generate crap for landfills. And, when managed properly last a LONG time (test Volts have been able to go 200-300k miles alreadyand there are Prius taxicabs that ahve 300-400k miles on theri original battery packs).
Also, single, central power generation plants are vastly easier to keep clean than a couple million individual point sources of pollution. Lastly, as gas powered car age, their pollution controls get WORSE and the cars become worse polluters. As EVs age, their power generation gets CLEANER (as regulations control the emissions of power plants and new sources of power come on line, like wind and solar).
EVs are the future, Enough of them on the grid and power plants end up getting more efficient due to not having to cycle down at night. And with smart grid technology, EVs plugged in actually do load balancing on the grid, making it more efficient.
Is there any particular reason NI-metal hydride batteries could not be recycled?
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Mechanical Diesel hard to beat
