Why
hybrid vehicles are more important than clean diesel
vehicles
Monday, November 19, 2007
A
hot Mercedes diesel hybrid at the LA Auto Show
I just finished posting a comment to the Kicking
Tires story regarding the Rand study which calls
hybrids and clean diesel more beneficial than ethanol.
Kicking Tires, however, focused on an element of the Rand
study (earlier
post) which, according to Wired Magazine, suggests
diesel vehicles are better than hybrid
cars.
Whether the world likes it or not, the world will
eventually move beyond oil. As both diesel and gasoline
require oil, both diesel and gasoline are dying fuels. So,
how can diesel be a solution for the future? Are we going
to start using tar sands that will make today's pollution
seem like the good old days (1980s) of clean air? Please.
It's time to start thinking beyond petroleum.
Aside from the fact that hybrid technology can make diesel
more efficient, it's the potential of hybrid technology
that is so important. Today, Toyota for example, is
building its Toyota
Prius on much of the same platform as its fuel cell
vehicles. Thus, the Prius could eventually evolve into a
Prius fuel cell hybrid vehicle, which will not need ANY
oil.
Additionally, in the interim, the Prius could adapt to
changing batteries, such as lithium-ion, and become a
plug-in hybrid capable of over 100 mpg. Other vehicles,
such as range extended series hybrid vehicles, the Chevy
Volt for example, could achieve 40 mpg on electricity
alone. Thus, many in the world could accomplish a
significant percent of their driving without ever using
fuel.
How could diesel ever achieve such potential?
Certainly, in the short term, diesels are a good choice
for fuel conscious consumers and even environmentalists;
however, diesels will never achieve the potential of
hybrids, especially when hybrids can incorporate and
utilize any diesel breakthroughs.
Comparing today's hybrids to diesels in terms of future
viability is about as sensible as comparing a calculator
from 1980 to a computer from the same year. In 1980, a
calculator was a much better deal, but not today.
|
