VW Diesel-Electric 69.9 MPG

http://blog.wired.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/03/03/golf_hybrid_01_3.jpg

We've got more info -- and pictures! -- about the diesel hybrid Golf we've already told you Volkswagen is rolling out at the Geneva Motor Show, and it looks impressive.

According to a Google translation of Germany's Auto Bild, the potential Prius killer sports a 74-horsepower three-cylinder TDI engine -- Autoblog speculates it's the 1.4-liter used in the Polo BlueMotion -- mated to a 27-horsepower electric motor and a seven-speed double-clutch DSG transmission. There's a nickel-metal hydride battery in the trunk; a regenerative braking system helps keep it charged. The car has stop/start capability and a full-electric mode at low speed. An "energy monitor" display on the dashboard keeps tabs on what the powertrain is doing.

According to Auto Bild, the hybrid Golf will get 69.9 mpg and emit 90 g/km of carbon dioxide. An earlier report by Britain's Auto Express said 89 g/km, but either way that's less than the 104 g/km emitted by the Prius and 116 emitted by the Honda Civic Hybrid.

So -- is Volkswagen going to build it? VW says it's just a concept at this point, but Auto Bild says it is "more than a concept car" and Auto Express flat-out says "the first hybrid Golfs are expected here (meaning Britain) late next year."

Linky (http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/03/revealed-volksw.html)

Sorry, pic didn't work.

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/2682/golfhybrid013by5.th.jpg (http://img210.imageshack.us/my.php?image=golfhybrid013by5.jpg)

Exactly the kind of car that I've been talking about. I hear Mitsubishi was doing something similar but with in-wheel motors. Time will tell

even desli is expensive as hell now.

the mpg figure is only applicable if you actually drive conservatively. Drive like a maniac and its no better then most small cars. I am interested in seeing a car with in-wheel motors to see if they can be more effective.

Diesel is more expensive per gallon than gas... Around my parts, gas is $3.60/gal and diesel is $4.20/gal (yes, I said 4-20)

Diesel is more expensive per gallon than gas... Around my parts, gas is $3.60/gal and diesel is $4.20/gal (yes, I said 4-20)

Diesel may be more expensive but these days it's cleaner burning and you get more MPG out of it than regular gas.

I don't think it's cleaner burning.. (I might be wrong), But diesel is basically gasoline that hasn't been refined as well, leaving a bit of crude oil in the gas. (which you would think would make it cheaper, but Big Oil knows that all the semis use it, so jack the price). Diesel cars (at least the older ones) were annoying because you had to heat the diesel before you could turn the car over (start it) I'm sure nowadays they have near-instant heating technology.

Diesel engines are cleaner than ever before, and in the next few years the diesel industry will virtually eliminate key emissions associated with on- and off-road diesel equipment. This environmental progress is the result of the new clean diesel system - combining clean diesel fuel, advanced engines and effective exhaust-control technology.

Diesel Kung-fu (http://www.dieselforum.org/meet-clean-diesel/what-is-clean-diesel/)

Well, it's a step in the right direction, I suppose. Now if only we could get the gov't to release all the data they've gotten from crashed ufo's and their non-polluting anti-gravity engines.... /Takes off tinfoil hat.

Diesel is more expensive per gallon than gas... Around my parts, gas is $3.60/gal and diesel is $4.20/gal (yes, I said 4-20)

Well, I see it already happened....elsewhere !

The Blutec diesel that Mercedes and Chrysler diesels use will have a common rail diesel engine, as opposed to a separate rail for each injector, and urea injection. CRD is the first thing, its been around since 2003 in Europe and is start to see the light of day in America. Then we will see urea injection. Diesels create Nox or Nitrous Oxides that need to be changed. So they add urea or Nitrates to get rid of the NOx. The other side effect of a diesel that we see is the fomation of soot. If the diesel has the right amount of fuel, you will barely see any soot. But, if they have turned up the smoke valve or fuel content, you will see lots of smoke residue "soot". When you see a diesel putting out lots of smoke, it really is not that efficient. It should be using that fuel to make heat to drive the wheels and pull the load.