Diesels in trouble again
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,505
From: Charleston, WV
GM developing diesel hybrids
Peugeot is currently the only automaker with production plans for a diesel-hybrid powertrain, but that could change is the coming years as General Motors is now working on its own version of the super efficient drivetrain.
GM is now working on a range of diesel-electric powertrains, with production tentatively slated to begin by the middle of the decade. Engineering of the new powertrains is currently ongoing at GM’s diesel headquarters in Turin.
GM’s engineering staff is experimenting with a number of diesel-hybrid combinations, ranging from mild hybrid systems to diesel versions of the Voltec system to be used in the Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera. Most of GM’s diesel-electric engineering centers on the company’s new 1.6L diesel engine.
Although costly, the diesel-electric powertrains hold the most promise as hybrids are most efficient in city use while diesel are most adapt to highway cruising. “If you want the best fuel consumption, you have to go with the diesel-electric hybrid,” GM Europe’s advanced technology chief engineer, Maurizio Cisternino, told Autocar.
GM is hoping to have some version of a diesel hybrid in production within the next 5 years, but that will depend on the cost of the technology. GM is hoping to cap the added premium of a diesel hybrid to about $1,400 over a gas-electric vehicle, but Cisternino admits that pricing structure “does not work at the moment”.
GM’s diesel hybrid technology is currently being developed for its Opel and Vauxhall brands, but that doesn’t mean it won’t eventually surface in the U.S. However, we suspect any U.S. applications would be several years behind the technology’s European launch.
Peugeot is currently the only automaker with production plans for a diesel-hybrid powertrain, but that could change is the coming years as General Motors is now working on its own version of the super efficient drivetrain.
GM is now working on a range of diesel-electric powertrains, with production tentatively slated to begin by the middle of the decade. Engineering of the new powertrains is currently ongoing at GM’s diesel headquarters in Turin.
GM’s engineering staff is experimenting with a number of diesel-hybrid combinations, ranging from mild hybrid systems to diesel versions of the Voltec system to be used in the Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera. Most of GM’s diesel-electric engineering centers on the company’s new 1.6L diesel engine.
Although costly, the diesel-electric powertrains hold the most promise as hybrids are most efficient in city use while diesel are most adapt to highway cruising. “If you want the best fuel consumption, you have to go with the diesel-electric hybrid,” GM Europe’s advanced technology chief engineer, Maurizio Cisternino, told Autocar.
GM is hoping to have some version of a diesel hybrid in production within the next 5 years, but that will depend on the cost of the technology. GM is hoping to cap the added premium of a diesel hybrid to about $1,400 over a gas-electric vehicle, but Cisternino admits that pricing structure “does not work at the moment”.
GM’s diesel hybrid technology is currently being developed for its Opel and Vauxhall brands, but that doesn’t mean it won’t eventually surface in the U.S. However, we suspect any U.S. applications would be several years behind the technology’s European launch.
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From: Santa Clara, CA
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Joined: Apr 2006
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i think this sucks. this country should embrace diesels and not eliminate them. the only car manufacture that i know of that produces diesel cars is Volkswagen. they have a lineup of clean diesels that produce good emissions scores. i hope they will be able to continue to produce their diesel products. the vw TDI jetta gets 40+ MPG and they are not a poor excuse for a vehicle. most hybrids are weak, expensive, and have a questionable reliability with their big expensive batteries. I DO NOT WANT A HYBRID, not now or ever. i would however like to see american auto manufactures produce diesels , i think a diesel cobalt for example would be a nice vehicle, would probably get 45 MPG as well. diesels have come a long way as well. if you look at VW diesel history, their most recent TDI vehicles have excellent fuel mileage, adequate performance, and good styling.
im all for diesel engines running bio-fuel. you can run diesels off of fuels other than fossil fuels
i also like the idea of possibly natural gas. instead of wasting natural gas to heat your house, we could fuel our cars with it. they would burn cleanly, and it would eliminate our reliance on foreign oil almost over-night. the technology exists and you can convert existing cars to run on it.
hybrids suck, big heavy expensive batteries... no thanks.
im all for diesel engines running bio-fuel. you can run diesels off of fuels other than fossil fuels
i also like the idea of possibly natural gas. instead of wasting natural gas to heat your house, we could fuel our cars with it. they would burn cleanly, and it would eliminate our reliance on foreign oil almost over-night. the technology exists and you can convert existing cars to run on it.
hybrids suck, big heavy expensive batteries... no thanks.
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Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 666
From: Stockton, Ca. USA
I think California and CARB have a plan to eventually just get rid of cars all together. Knock out the deisels with impossible regulations, once thats done, go after the gasoline cars. Its so expensive to own a car in California with insurance being mandatory, rediculously high registration fees, high sales taxes and gas taxes, smog checks every 2 years, getting a ticket will cost you hundreds, and using cops for revenue. Now they are starting to add toll roads.
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Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,285
From: Albany, NY
I think California and CARB have a plan to eventually just get rid of cars all together. Knock out the deisels with impossible regulations, once thats done, go after the gasoline cars. Its so expensive to own a car in California with insurance being mandatory, rediculously high registration fees, high sales taxes and gas taxes, smog checks every 2 years, getting a ticket will cost you hundreds, and using cops for revenue. Now they are starting to add toll roads.
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 940
From: Southern Indiana
I think California and CARB have a plan to eventually just get rid of cars all together. Knock out the deisels with impossible regulations, once thats done, go after the gasoline cars. Its so expensive to own a car in California with insurance being mandatory, rediculously high registration fees, high sales taxes and gas taxes, smog checks every 2 years, getting a ticket will cost you hundreds, and using cops for revenue. Now they are starting to add toll roads.
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Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 666
From: Stockton, Ca. USA
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