Toyota Auris hybrid beat by diesel Auris

Highway...

 

That's hardly true in Europe, many traffic lights and jams.

 

So why is there no diesel hybrid? Does it not work?

 

@ Troy Heagy - Yes, there is, cost and complexity! By the way, Diesel Auris does not have a automatic gearbox (it's optional)

@ KennyGS - Diesel hybrid has MPG below expectations...

 

What is not true for you, may be true for someone else.

I have had two jobs of late (keeping them is another issue though grrr). One where it was 4 miles each way in 100% heavy traffic and another where there was a 25 mile each way commute with a clear 20 miles on highway (at a slow 50 mph).

My Prius got good mpg's in both runs, but the diesel might be of use to someone doing the long run.

 

The problem on PC is most are anti-diesel opinionated, whether it works or not.

 

The main hurdle is cost. I remember a quote that the premium for Mercury Meta One diesel hybrid was $9000. Hybrids and diesel emissions have improved since 2005, but they both add to the cost over a comparable traditional gasoline car. So while a diesel Prius would seem ideal with great city economy and even better highway, chances are most won't opt to pay more for it and just get the gas version.
META ONE concept bristles with new technology

Diesels might have a place in PHVs though. Their added cost and weight becomes a lower percentage of the vehicle's total. Volvo's V60 PHV diesel has proven popular.

 

Yet, I see enough people are willing to pay the higher price of a Tesla.

 

People that would have to think about the extra $2000 for a diesel in a Prius only dream about the Tesla S, and paying for the S means ditching the fossil fuel hose. Paying more to just use a different but from the same source fossil fuel just isn't as appealing.

 

I think the main reason we will never see a diesel Prius is that it would be bought mainly in the EU, where hybrids have still a small market, a small % of a small market means very low numbers, too low to justify the R&D for that.
Btw outside UK in EU you can add a CNG system to an HSD hybrid, adding less than 2000 € you obtain a car than can go at highway speeds for near 3 €/100km.

 

I have no idea what that would compare to normally.

My gas costs $3.60/gallon, which is about .67 €/liter.

If my mileage is 50 mpg, then I can travel 100 km for about 3.16 € in the U.S. I believe gas costs about 2.5 x more in Italy.

So are you saying the car would achieve about 125 mpg?

 

No, he is saying that CNG is that much cheaper than gasoline. Regular is $3.65 around me at this time. CNG is $2 to $2.30 per GGE in the same area. Depending on the locale, that may or may not include a road tax.

The Civic CNG got around the same fuel economy has the gasoline version. The difference in fuel costs means it is cheaper t0 fuel per 25 miles though. A theoretical CNG hybrid one would cost $1.23 for 25 miles to the hybrid's $2.05.
Compare Side-by-Side

 

Thank you for explaining that.

I wonder how the total capacity of CNG compares to gasoline. Will fill ups be less/more frequent?

 

Right the trick is just very very low taxation for CNG and high taxation for gasoline and diesel. At 50 mpg is between approx. 7-9 €/100 km in EU, CNG hybrids are not very common but there are some.

 

Toyota should build a car similar to chevy Volt, where the car runs on elec, and has a ICE to charge the batt. this could be diesel or gas. I think toyota could have good sucess with this, and a diesel engine seems logical for a generator. the mpg should be great.