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Diesel-Electric Hybrid

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A diesel-electric hybrid is a vehicle that is powered by both a diesel engine and an electric motor. Trains have relied on this technology for decades.

Hybrid vehicles have become popular for their ability to provide zero emissions when running on electricity and improved fuel economy on the road. Diesels are also popular, especially for public transportation and for heavy-duty trucks and in passenger vehicles in Europe, for their general thriftiness and plentiful torque. Diesel-electric hybrid combine the latest advances in hybrid vehicle technology with the inherent efficiency and reduced emissions of modern clean diesel technology to produce dramatic reductions in both emissions and fuel consumption. The diesel engine's high torque, combined with hybrid technology, may offer performance in a car of over 100 mpg US (2.35L per 100 km).

Nowadays most diesel vehicles, and therefore the diesel part of hybrids, have the advantage they can (with modifications) use 100% pure biofuels (biodiesel), so they can use but do not need petroleum at all.

Production of diesel-electric hybrids so far has been limited to urban transit bus fleets. The main problem is that diesel-electric hybrid cars cost too much to produce - thousands of dollars more than gas-electric hybrids like the Toyota Prius. A diesel engine typically costs around 10 percent more than a gasoline-powered engine of similar power, even without the cost of adding an electric motor, batteries and the electronics to run them.

Diesel engines in general are not widely used for passenger cars in the United States, as US diesel fuel has long been considered very "dirty", with relatively high levels of sulfur and other contaminants in comparison to the Eurodiesel fuel in Europe, where greater restrictions have been in place for many years. Despite the "legally allowed" dirtier fuel, the US has tough restrictions on exhaust, and it has been difficult for car manufacturers to meet emissions levels. However, ultra-low sulfur diesel is set to be mandated in the United States in October 2006.

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Advantages and Drawbacks

Advantages

  • Improved Fuel Economy: Diesel-electric hybrids achieve 25 percent better fuel economy than a comparable gasoline-electric hybrid. GM, Ford, Daimler-Chrysler and Peugeot have built diesel-electric hybrid concepts that have achieved from 59 mpg (4L/100km) to 80 mpg (2.9L/100km).
  • ZEV Operation: In full electric mode, electric hybrid vehicles are capable of operating quietly and emission-free in inner cities and other areas prone to congestion.
  • Emission Reduction: Studies have shown that diesel-electric hybrids produce significantly fewer particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions than the standard diesel buses. MIT's Laboratory for Energy and the Environment conducted a study comparing total lifecycle energy efficiency and greenhouse emissions (including use, production, fuel production, and eventual disposal) of internal combustion, hybrid, and fuel cell vehicles. Diesel-electric hybrids turned out to be much better than diesel, gasoline and gasoline-electric hybrid cars, and highly competitive with hydrogen fuel cell systems. MIT's Laboratory for Energy and the Environment - Comparative Assessment of Fuel Cell Cars
  • Vehicle Performance: Diesel-electric hybrids achieve performance levels comparable to conventional vehicles. They have excellent power and acceleration, and a driving range that is equal to or greater than conventional or alternative fuel powered direct drive vehicles. With some diesel-electric hybrid systems such as PSA Peugeot Citreon's Hybride HDi, the electric motor is available for a power boost for extra acceleration on the highway.
  • Conventional Fuel and Fueling Infrastructure: In contrast to certain alternative fuel vehicles, diesel-electric hybrids use diesel fuel and can therefore be re-fueled at conventional fueling stations. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, which many believe are the ultimate fuel source, will require entirely new hydrogen production, storage, and fueling facilities. Diesel-electric hybrid technology is available now, and an infrastructure is already in place.
  • Cost and Availability: Diesel-electric hybrid engines are available in an increasing number of transit bus applications. This experience indicates that diesel-electric hybrids, compared to some other alternative vehicle technologies (such as gaseous fuels or fuel cell technology), may currently be more cost-effective. In comparison, highly-touted hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will require entirely new hydrogen production, storage, and fueling facilities. Diesel-electric hybrid systems can also be installed in existing automobile and truck models, which may reduce development costs.
  • Biodiesel Potential: One of the compelling aspects of diesel engines is their ability to run on biodiesel, a fuel derived from biological sources. With modifications, straight vegetable oils (SVO) or waste vegetable oils (WVO)could also be used. A diesel-electric hybrid could potentially be produced that uses very little to no petroleum-derived fuel.

Drawbacks

  • Price: The main obstacle keeping diesel-electric hybrid from production is cost. The price gap between a conventional diesel engine and a diesel-electric hybrid is still too wide.
  • Diesel Quality: In the United States, the diesel fuel available in most locations remains the dirty, high-sulfur variety, so a diesel-electric hybrid actually may not yield a significant improvement in emissions. This will change once low-sulfur regulations take effect in 2006.
  • Fleet Costs and Maintenance: For fleet vehicles such as passenger buses, initial purchase prices are high, as are maintenance costs. However, as more hybrids are produced and mechanics become more familiar with the hybrid technologies, the purchase price and maintenance costs of diesel-electric hybrids will continue to fall.

Examples of Diesel-Electric Vehicles

So far, production diesel-electric engines have mostly appeared in mass transit buses. Current manufacturers of diesel-electric hybrid buses include New Flyer Industries, Gillig, Orion Bus Industries, and North American Bus Industries. In 2008, NovaBus will add a diesel-electric hybrid option as well.

In 2003 GM introduced a diesel hybrid military (light) truck, equipped with a diesel electric and a fuel cell auxiliary power unit. Hybrid light trucks were introduced in 2004 by Mercedes (Hybrid Sprinter) and Micro-Vett SPA (Daily Bimodale). International Truck and Engine Corp. and Eaton Corp. have been selected to manufacture diesel-electric hybrid trucks for a US pilot program serving the utility industry in 2004. In mid 2005 Isuzu introduced the Elf Diesel Hybrid Truck on the Japanese Market. They claim that approximately 300 vehicles, mostly route buses are using Hinos HIMR (Hybrid Inverter Controlled Motor & Retarder) system.

FedEx Express, together with Environmental Defense and Eaton Corporation, introduced the FedEx OptiFleet E700, a diesel-electric hybrid delivery truck, into its delivery fleet in 2004. The new vehicle is expected to decrease particulate emissions by 96 percent, reduce smog-causing emissions by 65 percent, and travel 57 percent farther on a gallon of fuel, reducing fuel costs by over a third.

On July 5, 2006, Mitsubishi Fuso launched its new Canter Eco Hybrid parallel diesel-electric truck for the Japanese market. The system combines a 3.0-liter, four-cylinder diesel engine, a slim 35 kW electric motor generator installed between an automatic clutch, a high-efficiency automatic mechanical transmission; and a 1.9kWh ion battery pack consisting of 96 cells connected in series. The Canter Eco Hybrid features a 41% reduction in NOx and 46% decrease in particulate matter (PM) versus conventionally-powered models. The vehicle already meets Japan’s new long-term emissions regulations, due to come into effect August 2007—the first commercial truck to do so.

PSA Peugeot Citroën has unveiled two demonstrator vehicles featuring a diesel-electric hybrid powertrain: the Peugeot 307 and Citroën C4 Hybride HDi. The two models feature fuel economy of 69 mpg (3.4L/100km), 25% better than a similar vehicle equipped with a gasoline-electric hybrid system. For highway driving, the electric motor can provide a 35% boost in power for better acceleration when needed. (PSA Peugeot Citroën Unveils Hybrid Technology).

Cutaway of the PSA Peugeot Citroen Hybride HDi
Cutaway of the PSA Peugeot Citroen Hybride HDi
Cutaway of the PSA Peugeot Citroen Hybride HDi

General Motors has been testing the Opel Astra diesel-electric hybrid. The hybrid Astra gets better than 59 mpg (4L/100 km), improving about 25% on comparable diesel models. It is equipped with a 125-horsepower turbodiesel with maintenance-free particulate filters. A production Astra using the same CDTI diesel engine found in the hybrid goes from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 12.3 seconds; the hybrid is expected to reach 100 km/h in just under 8 seconds. That kind of acceleration puts the hybrid on par with the production-model Astra's top-of-the-line 200-horsepower 2.0L ECOTEC gasoline engine. Over 360,000 production Astras, with a variety of engines and trim levels, sold in Europe last year.

At the 2006 North American International Auto Show, Ford displayed the sporty Reflex concept. It features a solar and diesel-electric hybrid system and delivers a maximum fuel economy of 65 mpg(3.6L/100 km).

Under development by General Dynamics Land Systems Division since 1997, the Shadow RST-V could potentially replace the U.S. military's fuel-thirsty HUMVEE. It uses less than 50 percent of the normal fuel weight of a HUMVEE, and runs on four magnet motors and two lithium-ion battery packs. But fuel efficiency wasn't the main goal - by operating on pure battery power, the Shadow's diesel-electric propulsion allows for silent movement for over 20 miles with very low thermal and acoustic signatures. [1]

In 2006, students from Philadelphia created a diesel-electric hybrid car based on a kit called the Attack, which used soybean fuel that could go from 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds and still achieve 50 MPG. The students altered the frame to accommodate a 200-horsepower electric motor and 150-horsepower, turbocharged Volkswagen diesel engine. The little hybrid car that could

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