Diesel technology is not a hybrid vehicle alternative

Quite often when new clean diesel technology is talked about, it is referenced as an alternative to hybrid cars. For example the article Audi race victory helps put diesel on the map states, "The cause of diesel powertrains, seen by certain automakers and suppliers as a strong alternative to hybrids in the U.S., just received a significant boost."

I say diesel technology is an alternative to gasoline technology, but not to hybrid technology. Quite simply hybrid vehicles can be diesel vehicles. Hybrid technology doesn't just make gasoline vehicles more fuel efficient, it makes clean diesel vehicles more fuel efficient.

While diesel technology can compete with current hybrid technology in some fuel efficiency comparisons, it still isn't as clean. More important, however, the technology powering hybrid vehicles will become more powerful, more fuel efficient, lighter and cheaper in the next decade.

Ultimately, comparing hybrid technology to diesel technology is about one thing: complacency. In today's world good products just aren't good enough. In the future, only great products will survive, especially in the auto industry.

Sure, clean diesel vehicles are a good technology, but clean diesel hybrid vehicles are a great technology.