Hybrids are no better in the real world than diesels
June 12, 2008 by Anthony Crawford
Hybrids are no better in the real world than diesels
“cleangreencars.co.uk” say, “Just buy a diesel” after road testing three hybrids and three diesels.
-Anthony Crawford
The tests involved a return trip from central London to Brighton, which was a mix of city and motorway driving and the results are unexpected, to say the least.
In fact, fuel consumption figures indicated that the diesel models used less fuel and produced less C02.
The results of the tests are as follows:
TOYOTA PRIUS vs. JEEP PATRIOT 2.0 CRD
- Toyota Prius: 39.9 mpg (5.81L/100kms)
- Jeep Pariot: 38.9 mpg (6.0L/100kms)
HONDA CIVIC HYBRID vs. FORD FOCUS ECONETIC
- Honda Civic IMA: 40.2 mpg (5.85L/100kms)
- Ford Focus Econetic: 52.7 mpg (4.46L/100kms)
LEXUS GS450h vs BMW 535d
- Lexus GS450h: 28.5 mpg (8.25L/100kms)
- BMW 535d: 30.6 mpg (7.68L/100kms)
There is no question that Hybrids became popular in the United States because at the time, they were the only viable alternative to petrol-powered cars. Diesel powered passenger cars were almost unheard of due to relatively cheap fuel prices.
But with Americans now feeling the pinch (they are still paying 30% less than Australians) diesels are on the radar screen as a viable alternative to the Hybrids.
As reported by Car Advice today, the next generation of hybrids will be powered with Lithium ion batteries and be of the plug-in type. They will be far more efficient than the current cars, which use nickel-metal hydride batteries.
Clean Green Cars also makes the point that with the exception of around five Lexus models including; the GS450h and LS Hybrids which can actually drive at near enough to 40km/h on electric power only, hybrids spend little or no time driving solely on battery power. The Prius will just about get to a decent power walk pace, before the engine kicks in.
There is one advantage the prius has though, at least for the moment. That’s where the engine cuts out at idle, saving you some fuel but without losing you air conditioning function. But then, if the battery runs down, the car will start itself to recharge cancelling out the benefits.
But that advantage will be short lived as diesel engines with “stop start technology” are on their way here and that would put the oil burners in front again.
Even more interesting will be the diesel hybrid, which several carmakers are developing including Peugeot. We understand that they have one of these in test, which is recording near enough to 3.8l/100kms, combined.
The race for the smallest fuel consumption is on and as far as I can see, there is only upside for drivers.
Print it: 
THE FUTURE IS LPG!
Made in Australia, no need to give the scam-arabs a cent more than we have to.
Cheers
F-0
Make LPG cars, not LPG conversions. I believe a gas tank at the back of the car(even I believe it’s safe) will stop many people from doing the conversion. Some dislike the reduced boot space, some may just hate seeing an ugly tank there. In Germany, there are factory manufactured LPG cars, such as LPG Subaru Forester, oh yes, that’s nice! I don’t think I am the smart one here and believe all car industry people and politic Assh000ls know about LPG car option. The fact is, they need a new money machine to stimulate the going to recession economy, new technology such as hybrid is perfert for sucking middle class money.
we all know diesels generally currently perform better then hybrids, espeically in the highway environment… what frustrates me is diesel/LPG is OLD technology that is still based on fossil fuels. If anything they are merely a stop gap, short-term solution to the long term answer which is most likely electrically driven vehicle in the form of either fuel cells or some form of battery
you are comparing a completely mature technology nearly at the end of development life (diesels) with technology still in its infancy (hybrids) and yet expect hybrids to be better… i think hybrids are doing a damn good job staying competitive with ICE’s – which lets face it still command the majority of all R&D dollars…
by purchasing a hybrid – i am arguing that u are promoting this future technology – providing more sales to the manfuacturers which will enevitably led to greater investment and development into these technologies.. which means the end game of full electric vehicles is that one step closer…
trackdaze Says:
“Your right with LPG being a viable option. Firstly on a cost perspective. there is was a test between a prius and a lpg territory that came out a draw on a cost basis.”
***
trackdaze, can you provide a link or reference to that test please? I would be very interested in reading it.
so what if they consume the same amount of fuel? its running costs that drives the consumers, and diesel is still 50c dearer per liter than petrol. and if we all switch to diesel, the price will only go up further. these savings margins are only going to increase as the price of oil continues to rise. we need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. hybrids is a step in that direction.
Grant?????? 50c dearer. If your going to make figures up atleast make them believable!
Nuclear reactors and electric cars is the solution.
Jimbo, 50c more may be hyperbole. but it was exactly 30c more expensive today on my way to work, so my point still stands. $1.86 vs $1.56.
I think Diesel hybrid would be intersting… perhaps there are difficulties putting it into a passenger vehicle or the oil groups are lobbying against it.
Quite so, TP. Diesel engines’ higher compressions were just the start of the head aches, development-wise. With their less civilsed start-up and shut-down behaviour caused by the compressions of 22:1 and the like, much work was needed to get the diesel-hybrid up to petrol-hybrid standards in this regard.
There’s much more to it than that. Technically, Wheelnut knows a lot more and it was discussed in a blog here about a month ago. I forget which one.
The Peugeot 308 diesel hybrid is out next year.
In the short term hybrids are not the answer as they are way too short term as pollution will still be caused! And in an increasing world population, that means more drivers and pollution will still occur and a nominal slower rate then now!
Hydrogen is the answer………..”Hydrogen, being a fuel that burns cleanly, it can directly address polluting emissions.”
“When you burn hydrogen you produce only water, so there is no CO2 produced, so no impact on greenhouse gas emissions.” (HYBRIDS STILL WILL PRODUCE CO2 EMISSIONS AND ARE STILL RELIANT ON PETROL AND/OR ELECTRICITY).
Seems to me all people are blinded by this fact thinking it is the answer…..its only a stepping stone to next level (e.g. full electric or hydrogen)!
Diesel hybrids and LPG hybrids are much better and lower fuel usage!
Grant, the diesel you saw today was 19.2% dearer than standard unleaded. Situation normal. Always has been.
Diesel Hybrids sound good in theory but they will be very expensive to produce (think of the added costs of Diesel and the added cost of Hybrids and add the figures together…)
Also to correct Alborz, a large number of Diesel cars sold in Autralia still do not have particulate filters fitted as standard. These include the 1.9TDI and 103KW TDI Golfs, Hyundai i30 diesels and most light commercials such as the Hilux (but there are many others). The french makes generally lead the way in fitment of these devices.