Turbo-Diesel- Hybrid Killer?

We all know the cars. A Toyota Prius comes rolling down the road, silent as it is running on its battery, the owner happily getting 48 mpg. Hybrids represent a gigantic (overdue) leap forward in car technology. Highly efficient, great for city driving, and an all around good car. There are a few problems facing hybrid. they need a new battery every 125,000 miles, which costs around $4500 at present day prices. The harming of the Nickel-Hydraide is more harmful to the environment than the carbon emissions saved. But the main problem is with highway driving. When driving above 30 mph he electric motor turns off and it goes into normal petrol mode. While still efficient, it loses out on its overall mpg here.

Inset the clean diesel. Already a staple in Europe, where the fuel of choice is diesel, it is finally catching on here in America. Take the Volkwswagen Jetta TDI. Using a 1.6 litre turbo-diesel motor, the car get an astonishing 38 mpg city, and 50 highway. The average American commuter spends most of their time at highway speeds. Thus making it a more fuel efficient vehicle.




Then comes the prospect of driving. With 148hp and 250 ft lb. of torque, it is by no means a slouch. Whereas most hybrids accelerate at the speed of hair growth, the TDI accelerates as fast if not faster than the average car. And diesel in America is still in its infancy. The Audi A1 in Europe, when powered by the TDI motor, gets an astounding 68 mpg combined.


(The Audi R8 Concept-powered by a 600hp diesel- that gets 30 mpg)



There are however some problems with diesels. They still depend on oil, which is a limited resource, as well as having a higher cost here in America due to the lack of diversity in the diesel market. Besides that they are the same as a normal car, with no major motor work to be done for at least 200,000 miles.

In the future, expect to see diesel-electric hybrids, such as the new UP!. A company owned by Mercedes, it seats two, is powered by a deisel-hybrid, and gets 135 mpg!

The future is bright for Turbo Diesel Cars.