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Science/Tech See other Science/Tech Articles Title: Diesel Hybrids on the Fast Track Diesel Hybrids on the Fast Track By John Gartner Hybrid gas-electric vehicles are the current champions of fuel economy, but they may soon get lapped. Auto manufacturers are making tracks to produce diesel hybrids that will go even further on a gallon of fuel. Hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid and Ford Escape Hybrid employ an electric motor that assists the engine and enables the vehicles to go between 15 and 50 percent further on a tank than a comparable gasoline vehicle. But a new generation of hybrid diesel prototypes being developed by General Motors, DaimlerChrysler and Ford could soon surpass these milestones. Vehicles with diesel engines typically get 25 to 30 percent more miles to the gallon than their gasoline counterparts, according to Charlie Freese, executive engineering director at GM Powertrain. Freese said the many factors that make diesel engines more efficient include operating unthrottled and more efficient oxidizing of fuel. Diesel engines also have a higher compression ratio, and the heavier diesel fuel has a higher energy density, according to Freese. Diesel hybrid technology has been used in large vehicles that transport heavy loads, including buses and locomotives. General Motors subsidiary Allison Transmission produces hybrid diesel engines used by several municipal bus services. Freese said diesel and hybrid technologies have synergies because hybrid systems reduce fuel consumption by relying on the electric motor while idling and during acceleration of stop-and-go traffic. Diesel engines are optimized for hauling heavy loads and for steady-speed highway driving. "The aspect that is critical (in designing a diesel hybrid) is to balance it for all operating environments," according to Freese. Earlier this year, GM unveiled the Opel Astra Diesel Hybrid, a sedan concept vehicle the company claims would increase fuel economy by 25 percent over a comparable diesel car, or approximately 59 miles per gallon. The vehicle uses a hybrid system with two electric motors being co-developed with DaimlerChrysler, according to GM. Auto manufacturers produce concept cars to showcase technologies in development that are often later integrated into commercial vehicles. DaimlerChrysler produced 100 Dodge Ram hybrid electric vehicle diesel pickup trucks in December, according to spokesman Cole Quinnell. Most of them were sold before they were manufactured, according to Quinnell. "We produced the vehicles to extend our learning about hybrids," Quinnell said. The goal is to produce trucks that get better than 30 miles per gallon. DaimlerChrysler's future diesel hybrids will be based on the hybrid technology being developed with GM and would be available in late 2007 or early 2008, according to Quinnell. In the future, "Adding the hybrid option would be an option to check off," as customers do today to request a turbo-charged engine, Quinnell said. The company will show off the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Hybrid concept car at the 2005 New York International Auto Show, which runs from March 25 to April 3. Also showcasing a diesel hybrid concept vehicle at the auto show will be Ford Motor Company with its Mercury Meta One, a crossover wagon. In addition to increasing fuel economy, coupling an electric motor with a diesel engine can help automakers meet increasingly stringent emissions standards, according to Dan Benjamin, an analyst at ABI Research. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires auto manufacturers to greatly reduce emissions for their 2007 model-year vehicles. "Can hybrid engines help (reduce) diesel emissions? Absolutely," Benjamin said. Although diesel vehicle manufacturers will likely add filters or catalytic converters to reduce emissions, "hybrid systems can cut emissions by eliminating situations where NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions are at their very worst," according to Benjamin. Meeting California's tougher emissions requirements, which have been adopted by four other states, presents more of a challenge, Benjamin said. Automakers are more likely to offer diesel hybrids in Europe before the United States gets them because diesel fuel is much more expensive there. And diesel vehicles have a much higher market penetration there, according to Benjamin. Integrating both hybrid and diesel technology could add up to $8,000 to the price of a vehicle, which may limit its appeal to American consumers. "Even (with gas at) $3 a gallon, $8,000 (more) is a lot to pay." GM's Freese agrees that meeting the emissions and budgetary requirements in the United States would be difficult. "North America is a challenge," he said. "The cost ends up being significant for some of the (emissions reducing) systems."
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#1. To: Mr Nuke Buzzcut (#0)
Diesel hybrids sounds good to me, and I don't see any reason one couldn't convert one over to straight veggie oil and minimize the reliance on petro-fuels.
I have an old LeSharo, Turbo Diesel Motorhome.. I couldn't be happier with the performance and fuel economy.. It's head and sholders above it's gas powered counterparts.
#3. To: Jhoffa_ (#2)
Throw a Neoterics conversion system in and burn recycled veggie oil, free fuel and you can almost breathe the exaust-no loss in performance either.
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