Is clean diesel better than hybrid vehicles?
So is hybrid technology less important than clean diesel technology?
An interesting place to find an answer to that question is Europe. Europe is all about diesel, and in France, diesel is seen as the short term answer, but diesel hybrid vehicles are seen as the next step before fuel cells. (more)
Why? Because diesel hybrids would still be 20 - 30 percent more fuel efficient than clean diesel engines, and that is just with today's technology.
What the critics of hybrids are missing - in a huge way - is that experimental hybrids already demonstrate that is quite possible to achieve more than 200 mpg. When lithium-ion batteries take over NiMH batteries for use in hybrid cars, everything will change.
To assume that won't happen would be like assuming computers wouldn't overtake calculators.
The fact is, hybrid technology is just emerging, and the potential of hybrid technology has barely been tapped.
In reality, in the next decade, a diesel hybrid that achieves more than 200 mpg is completely feasible and cost effective. Within this same period, a completely feasible fuel cell vehicle will still cost more than $100,000.00.
In a decade, the potential of clean diesel technology simply won't be in the same league as hybrid technology.
Still, even if clean diesel is 20 or 30 percent more efficient than standard gasoline engines, diesel still costs almost a $1.00 more per gallon in California.
How cost effective is that?
Hybrid cars versus biodiesel
Labels: clean diesel, fuel cells, Hybrid Vehicles, plug-in hybrids, toyota



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