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Diesel-Electric Hybrid
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/dccom/0,,0-5-7165-1-456546-1-0-0-0-0-0-243-7165-0-0-0-0-0-0-0,00.html
Diesel
One particularly interesting hybrid vehicle combination uses a diesel engine for power. Diesels are excellent at delivering constant power for long periods of time, suffering less wear while operating at higher efficiency. 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 use 100% pure biofuels (biodiesel), so they can use but do not need petroleum at all.
Diesels 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 given what is put into the engine. However, ultra-low sulfur dieselis set to be mandated in the United States in October 2006.
PSA Peugeot Citroën offers PSA Peugeot Citroën has unveiled two demonstrator vehicles featuring a diesel-electric hybrid powertrain: the Peugeot 307 and Citroën C4 Hybride HDi (PDF).
VW made a prototype diesel-electric hybrid car that achieved 118 mpg US fuel economy (2 liters per 100 km), but has yet to sell a hybrid vehicle.
General Motors has been testing the Opel Astra Diesel Hybrid.
So far, production diesel-electric engines have mostly just 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 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.
High-Power Biodiesel Hybrid
The newest hybrid still yet to reach the market is the High-Power Biodiesel Hybrid (HPBH). These cars run on a hybrid engine with a mix of fuels and have excellent fuel efficiency and power. In 2006, Students from Philadelphia created a HPBH car which used soybean fuel that could go from 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds and still achieve 50 MPG.
