Diesel or hybrid?

Latest post 09-17-2009 11:47 by DebbySi. 22 replies.
  • 07-09-2008 23:52

    Diesel or hybrid?

    The hybrid era is still gaining momentum. The potentially triumphant return of diesel is imminent. In five years, which will be more popular?

  • 07-10-2008 21:22 In reply to

    Re: Diesel or hybrid?

    I think the hybrid will still be popular. The high price of diesel will be a turnoff for a lot of people.

     

  • 07-10-2008 21:34 In reply to

    Re: Diesel or hybrid?

     very coolGeeked

  • 07-10-2008 22:19 In reply to

    Re: Diesel or hybrid?

    With the skyrocketing cost of diesel and the fact the the high effeciency diesel engine and hybrid get equivelent mileage, I think hybrid wins.

     

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  • 07-10-2008 22:55 In reply to

    Re: Diesel or hybrid?

    Both will win.  The era of one dominant engine type is behind us.  I think hybrid and diesel will represent 25-30% of the market each in 5 years.

     

  • 07-11-2008 1:16 In reply to

    Re: Diesel or hybrid?

     Diesel will be the winner.  Hybrid hype is coming to an end

     

  • 07-11-2008 1:17 In reply to

    Re: Diesel or hybrid?

     Motorcycle Cool

  • 07-11-2008 7:52 In reply to

    Re: Diesel or hybrid?

    Both plus Electric.  Diesel engines are built tough and last a long time.  Biodiesel runs perfectly in a diesel engine and can be mixed without issue.  A conversion can be done to SVO (straight veggie oil).  Both of which have renewable challenges, but what doesn't.  (Solar, Hydrogen, Natural Gas, Electric, Gasoline, etc.)

    Hybrids are great, but the question is what kind of Hybrid?  Hybrids have multiple "levels" if you will, some are more green and more hybrid than others.

    Fuel economy; or cost to get down the road, is be impacted by a) care for your vehicle, b) driving style, c) speed with which you drive.  It's not just the price at the pump or the MPG on the sticker.

    We need to consider what want and what we are willing to trade-off to get what we want.  Are we only looking for cheap (MPG or the equivalent)?  Or are we trying to lower our carbon footprint (green)?  Very different solutions.  Combustible engines create road runoff that impact our water supplies; just an example of considering the entire transportation question when considering a vehicle.  What about the lifetime cost of the vehicle or the lifetime emissions, both from ownership but also manufacturing?  When you drive a vehicle off the lot you have also committed X amount of resources to the manufacturing process, some renewable, some not. 

     

  • 07-11-2008 10:40 In reply to

    Re: Diesel or hybrid?

    Some great diesel cars are coming up in the race like the VW jetta TD. I think that they will have a great shot at making a new mark in the industry if we can get the price of Diesel fuel down where it belongs. Question, does anyone know why diesel fuel cost more that gasoline? It comes from the bottom of the barrel and cost less to refine.

     "A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kickboxing."

  • 07-11-2008 12:39 In reply to

    Re: Diesel or hybrid?

    I think the media will determine the final outcome. all they talk about is hybrid so thats all people know, watch what happens if you get the media talking about diesel.

     

  • 07-11-2008 12:57 In reply to

    Re: Diesel or hybrid?

    Very smart observation, DONTBNS. Well said!
  • 07-11-2008 17:20 In reply to

    Re: Diesel or hybrid?

     Although i will say that the media does report on bio-diesel.

     

  • 07-11-2008 17:22 In reply to

    Re: Diesel or hybrid?

     Maybe the bio-diesel should be an additional thread. how about bio-diesel vs. diesel??

     

  • 07-11-2008 23:05 In reply to

    Re: Diesel or hybrid?

     I think that diesel needs to be reborn in the American lexicon. Diesel right now conjures up images of old german diesels from the 70's and 80's that were loud, smelly and usually had a trail of visible exhaust behind them. Manufacturers need to launch campaigns to combat and reform American opinions of diesels. The media will take whatever is given to them and regurgetate what's getting the most buzz. If manufacturers create a buzz, the media will pick it up and diesel could become the latest fad (as if it hasn't been around all this time).

    I think VW, Benz and BMW need to step it up and start working on changing the American car-buying public's minds. Otherwise diesels will remain hard to find cars that are relegated only to the coasts.

  • 07-14-2008 11:49 In reply to

    Re: Diesel or hybrid?

    Totally agree that diesel has a bad rap in the American collective psyche, connoting thick blue-black smoke, a racket of engine noise and the pickup of a moped.  This is, as many know, no longer true.  Overcoming these perceptions won't be easy, but the good news is that some of the strongest brands are working on it.  If anyone can pull it off...

    Check out: http://www.kbb.com/kbb/green-cars/articles.aspx?BlogPostId=354

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