Diesel v hybrids at an EPA glance
The EPA's top pick for 2009I've been ill the last several days, so when I saw the EPA's Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient Vehicles List last week, I just wasn't very surprised or excited. Hybrids still dominate, especially in the city. Since, however, I've read a few articles noting the significance of the first diesel making the list.
A manual VW Jetta TDI is rated 30 mpg in the city, 41 on the highway. The Toyota Prius is 48 and 45, respectively.
Many diesel fans regularly chide the whole hybrid cars segment as a fad, but when it comes to city driving it's clear, hybrids are easily superior.
In order the list goes: Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Nissan Altima hybrid, Ford Escape hybrid (and Mercury Mariner hybrid, Mazda Tribute hybrid), Smart ForTwo, Toyota Camry hybrid, VW Jetta Diesel Manual, VW Jetta Diesel Automatic, Toyota Yaris Manual, and the Toyota Yaris Automatic.
Labels: clean diesel, Ford Escape hybrid, honda civic hybrid, Hybrid Vehicles, Mazda Tribute hybird, mercury mariner hybrid, nissan altima hybrid, toyota camry hybrid, toyota prius
posted by Dahcredyns at
3:59 PM
7 Comments:
Very helpful and interesting article!
www.info-hybridcar.blogspot.com
Indigo Incarnates
I think 11 years is a long time for a "fad" to run. Also, there's no reason why hybrid and diesel have to be either/or options (other than the fact that the resultant vehicle would be pretty expensive).
My biggest gripe with diesel is that it still primarily consumes non-renewable fuel, while hybrids serve as a technological bridge between fully-gasoline and fully-electric vehicles. Additionally, diesel fuel is a LOT more expensive (in Maryland, it's nearly a dollar per gallon more than 87-unleaded.) So the fuel economy gains are easily eaten up by the fuel price difference.
And we will see diesel hybrids from a number of European automakers very soon.
Diesel is not a hybrid competitor, as many diesel fans have suggested, and I think these EPA results prove that, especially in city driving.
part of the reasoning why diesels are so popular with Europeans is that the fuel is comparitively cheaper than gasoline. This is simply not the case in North America and hence the overall lack of interest in diesel automobiles.
but what diesel be as cheap if the US converted to diesel?
while diesel is a natural by product of gasoline production, if all was refined into gasoline, it would take more oil. in some ways, i'd bet, European diesel is cheaper because of America's ridiculous gasoline consumption.
When I started to work on my blog, I was surprised to realize that diesel was more expensive than regular gas. I've always thought that it was cheaper. Any idea why it increased faster than regular gas? Because of this "lack" of interest upon diesel?
I can't really speculate, but I know that diesel, in California, has been more expensive than gasoline for many years - for as long as I've cared to pay attention.
Worlwide, diesel demand has increased as has gasoline demand. Perhaps the increase in diesel demand was greater than gasoline demand? Again, that's pure speculation.
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