Why hybrids are more important than diesel
The hot Mercedes diesel hybrid at the LA Auto ShowI just finished posting a comment to the Kicking Tires story regarding the Rand study which calls hybrids and clean diesel more beneficial than ethanol. Kicking Tires, however, focused on an element of the Rand study (earlier post) which, according to Wired Magazine, suggests diesel vehicles are better than hybrid cars.
Whether the world likes it or not, the world will eventually move beyond oil. As both diesel and gasoline require oil, both diesel and gasoline are dying fuels. So, how can diesel be a solution for the future? Are we going to start using tar sands that will make today's pollution seem like the good old days (1980s) of clean air? Please. (Finish)
Labels: clean diesel, diesel hybrid vehicles, fuel cells, Hybrid Vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
8:14 AM
2 Comments:
Complete Story
I just finished posting a comment to the Kicking Tires story regarding the Rand study which calls hybrids and clean diesel more beneficial than ethanol. Kicking Tires, however, focused on an element of the Rand study (earlier post) which, according to Wired Magazine, suggests diesel vehicles are better than hybrid cars.
Whether the world likes it or not, the world will eventually move beyond oil. As both diesel and gasoline require oil, both diesel and gasoline are dying fuels. So, how can diesel be a solution for the future? Are we going to start using tar sands that will make today's pollution seem like the good old days (1980s) of clean air? Please.
It's time to start thinking beyond petroleum.
Aside from the fact that hybrid technology can make diesel more efficient, it's the potential of hybrid technology that is so important. Today, Toyota for example, is building its Toyota Prius on much of the same platform as its fuel cell vehicles. Thus, the Prius could eventually evolve into a Prius fuel cell hybrid vehicle, which will not need ANY oil.
Additionally, in the interim, the Prius could adapt to changing batteries, such as lithium-ion, and become a plug-in hybrid capable of over 100 mpg. Other vehicles, such as range extended series hybrid vehicles, the Chevy Volt for example, could achieve 40 mpg on electricity alone. Thus, many in the world could accomplish a significant percent of their driving without ever using fuel.
How could diesel ever achieve such potential?
Certainly, in the short term, diesels are a good choice for fuel conscious consumers and even environmentalists; however, diesels will never achieve the potential of hybrids, especially when hybrids can incorporate and utilize any diesel breakthroughs.
Comparing today's hybrids to diesels in terms of future viability is about as sensible as comparing a calculator from 1980 to a computer from the same year. In 1980, a calculator was a much better deal, but not today.
This is very true about the future. People, who are promoting diesels are forgetting that diesel is simply much more energy-efficient fuel than gasoline. In that, modern diesel hybrids (experimental) achieve 80 mpg. So it is not a question of diesel versus hybrids. It is a question of combining diesels and electricity.
BTW: why do you think tar sand is so bad for the environment? Indeed, all oil produced in Canada, which is the largest foreign oil supplier for the US, is made from tar sands, without much environmental effect AFAIK.
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