Volvo to develop diesel hybrid
October 7, 2008 by Matt Brogan
In what seems to be the day for Hybrid news, Volvo has announced plans for a diesel hybrid system due for sale by 2012.
The hybrids, which will at first be sold in Europe and the United States, will first appear in large sedans, SUVs and crossovers due to the size of the technology therein.
Operating solely on battery power at lower speeds, the rear wheels are driven by an electric motor, while at higher speeds, a five-cylinder turbo diesel drives the front wheels (much the same as any FWD car), which can also be employed to take care of harder work as required (such as hill starts and towing).
A plug-in variant is also in the pipeline and Volvo’s Magnus Jonsson says this technology will arrive “very quickly” after the initial hybrid and will use household current to recharge the battery eliminating the need for petroleum based fuel.
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You lot sure about the USA in that comment. They are definitely not lovers of diesels in vehicles like the XC range. Volvo are not the only ones on this bandwagon, Land Rover are not far away from having diesel hybrids along with the PAS group.
interesting concept. If the car operates “solely” from electricity at low speeds, the diesel engine would still be ticking over, but just at minimal revs, right? (strewth, that question sounds even more stupid as I type it, but I gotta know for sure!!!) I might just go and repeatedly hit my head against a door…
Toyota will be worried. Diesel Hybrids will make the Prius and upcoming Camry Hybrids look like monstrously inefficient fuel guzzlers.
hasnt hyundai nearly got a diesel hybrid ready???
Not sure Andrew M – I’ve vaguely recall reading somethinga while ago but it wouldn’t surprise me.
no wait,
i was thinking about their LPG Hybrid Cupid.
that is a world first, and IMO a better option.