Comments on: Hybrid Car Math, German Style

By: Lara

Lara — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:19:36 +0000

I know there’s a lot of hate on this page about the German diesel hybrid…. but does anyone know if you can convert this concept to be a bio-diesel hybrid?

By: Raffy Long

Raffy Long — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 07:32:01 +0000

Volkswagen really Drive me crazy specially when it it unveiled the diesel-electric VW Golf Hybrid. I really love the way VW design cars it is just too amazing, the concepts were really one of a kind.

By: GR

GR — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:50:43 +0000

ps – and also make it only a hybrid vehicle (like the Prius) so people aren’t always focused on the price (especially for a diesel hybrid).

By: GR

GR — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:46:59 +0000

VW should create both a clean diesel hybrid and a clean diesel. That way when diesel prices shoot up (like they have been doing…similar to gas prices) they have a production ready vehicle to start building. Obviously easier said than done, but might as well start now.

By: EVtransPortal

EVtransPortal — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:30:10 +0000

Mercedes is developing a 100% electric S class
http://benzinsider.com/2008/03/mercedes-benz-developing-100-electric-car/

and gas electric hybrid Smart Cars for the US market with Lithium ion batteries http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/environment/2008-03-23-mercedes-electric-car-battery_N.htm#LogIn

Also, Loremo is introducing a hybrid version at launch: http://evolution.loremo.com/content/view/13/47/lang,en/

For more information see http://EVtransPortal.com/evindustrynews.html and http://EVtransPortal.com

By: Shines

Shines — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:34:18 +0000

I suspect VW is looking at Clean Diesel technology as an alternative to hybrid diesel. Yes you can build a diesel hybrid, but if it is not the clean diesel it kind of defeats the purpose (a hybrid that smells bad, is noisy when the diesel is running and belches smoke). You can combine clean diesel and hybrid but now you are talking very expensive. Clean diesel requires a catalytic pre-filter to add extra oxygen so the diesel can burn its fuel efficiently and still requires a special exhaust to remove the carbon dust. Then add the hybrid motors and LI battery and you have a very complicated and expensive car. As far as the Prius being too expensive, well that’s just plain wrong. Compare on Edmunds the 5 year cost of ownership for mid-sized sedans.

By: steved28

steved28 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:25:41 +0000

Just to address Andreas points

- Starter: used only a 1-5 times a day in normal operation, used 20-30 times in heavy red light city driving in an hour. Starter will wear fast

Hybrids don't use starters, they use the second drive motor, which is already in motion.

- Battery: heavier use of charing and discharging. Normal Batteries will wear fast

Hybrids use deep cycle 12V batteries which are designed for many such cycles. (not speaking about the hybrid batteries here, which are designed for many thousands of cycles)

- AC: is driven by the ICE, with the ICE stopped at red lights, the AC will not work. Not to nice in some areas

Some hybrids don't run the A/C off the ICE, those that do will keep the engine running at stops if needed.

- Navigation etc. are normally muted when you start the ICE, so again something that does not look well, when your in city stop-starting often if you don't alter the system

Nav systems do not shut off with the ICE in hybrids.

I assume you don't own one. That's OK, but don't spread falsities about them.

By: M Pelekis

M Pelekis — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:53:34 +0000

I don't think its rocket science to add an electric motor to regular car,especially today with modern electronics,

what is the extra price of an electric motor added to a diesel car,

a hybrid diesel would be more efficient than a simple diesel,

I don't understand why so much discussion for such a simple case,

please try to compare the cost of a hydrogen fuel cell car which everybody admires as a non polluting car, which is not true, hydrogen fuel cell cars produce water vapour which is a pollutant in congested cities

By: Armand

Armand — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:47:22 +0000

No the Germans can't build hybrids...if they could, they would. Do you think they are enjoying Toyota's hybrid domination?

Plus, certain things need to transcend just simple economics. We are now very quickly approaching some serious environmental issues...and diesel solves NONE of these problems. So diesel lovers can say all they want, but it solves nothing in terms of fuel use...

Use half as much fuel driving while you use twice as much producing...does that make sense?

By: Armand

Armand — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:44:02 +0000

MOST CARS won’t navigate snow deeper than 4 inches. So the Prius is not worse.