I drove a VW Jetta TDI for a few years. One thing I did notice the diesel engine takes a while to heat up. I take a ferry to work. In the winter when I idled the car while taking the ferry the engine would cool off. I would have to run the heater on low fan speed to save on heat. How would the engine stay warm if it cut off and on all the time?
So because one diesel car you drove took an age to warm up means all diesel engines will be the same? Sure they do take longer to warm up the heating system compared to a petrol, but it depends on the design of the engine. Maybe being hybrid it could use some of the battery to accelerate the heating? Maybe a diesel preheater like many Mercedes diesels? But diesel hybrids are here in Europe as mentioned many times before. They work fine.
Owning TDI and a diesel UTV I have wondered the same. More so than gas engines, current diesels run more efficient at temperature and a constant start/kill cycle further adds to waist. Now with VW going into production with the LX1, it will be interesting to see what the future holds.
What you see as a flaw is actually proof of the engine's efficiency. A hybird, and even a non one, would benefit from using electrical supplementation for heat. As the BEV market grows, small electric heat pumps will drop in price. Traditional cars are starting the trend away from belt driven accessories. Even they will benefit from an electric AC compressor. For an efficient diesel a heat pump might be more in order.
Diesel hybrid may benefit from the thermal vacuum bottle employed on the Prius. The vacuum would have to be sized for the coolant system of the particular diesel engine. This could help smooth out the heat / cool cycles of the diesel thermal sentivities. DBCassidy
In principle the diesel/hybrid makes sense, but all my readings show we won't get then in the US anytime soon. Higher vehicle cost and fuel price seems the most published reasons given, I'm suspect though, because you can buy a 1 Ton 4x4 Diesel Luxury Ranch PU or a Lamborghini here. Granted these are not good examples, but what gives?
They will have to comply with Euro 6 emissions, so should be able to comply with your legislation. But the companies that make diesel hybrids have no presence in north America, so they're unlikely to offer their products. Also, the cost of diesel is much more expensive in the US. Is it easy to import a car from South America into the US? If so, import a car there and then import it to the US. Peugeot 508 HYbrid4 | Hybrid Eco Friendly 4 Wheel Drive Estate Car Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4 | Eco Friendly SUV MVP Electric Diesel Hybrid
Getting a car into the US is a major pain in the arse. PSA was my first search hit in Europe and rumor control has it they are coming back to the states. We shall see.
Good conversations but I would be surprised if diesels happen here at all. The govermant does all it can to discourage diesel cars.
I rode in a Mercedes Bluetec Hybrid taxi in Stockholm during my trip there in July. Sure enough, it worked beautifully! Just not sure how it would work in the winter. In other cities, all of the MB diesel taxi's have the auto stop system when you come to a light, similar to what we're seeing here now with gas ICE's.
