Should car companies invest in diesel, or hybrids?
The choice between diesel and hybrids is easy, says David Welch, an analysist with BusinessWeek - there really isn't one. Car companies need to be working on both to be competitive around the world, due to trends in different markets. The article claims that the average cost of a diesel engine is $1000-3000, but that upcoming emission requirements will add "several thousand" to that cost and bring them into parity with hybrids. There's also the driving styles that each technology is best suited towards, which of course then begs the question as to why the urban Europeans prefer diesel while the highway-cruising US market is leaning towards hybrid. If manufacturers can find ways to deal with the upcoming stricter emission requirements - and I'm confident that solutions can and will be found - then it will be interesting to see how the market shakes out.
- Ward's 10 Best Engines The annual ranking from Ward's for 2005 has hit and hybrids/fuel saving technology has made an impact. The V-6 hybrid engine from the new Accord and the cylinder deactivating 5.7 Hemi are both on the ...
- Potential hybrid safety hazards Unlike the misconstrued editorial we talked about earlier in the week there are a few "real" dangers when it comes to hybrids. They mainly involve first responders to auto accidents. Now that hybrid e ...
- Year-end reflections from Pittsburgh Don Hammonds, one of my favorite newspaper auto writers, sums up 2004 in two words: Hybrids and Sedans. What does he mean? Well the sedan is back, even for American companies and hybrids will surely m ...
- GM, Chrysler hybrid plans include two-mode system Yesterday we reported on the agreement made between GM and Chrysler to work on hybrid technology together. Today I want to take some time to explain what is on the drawing board. What these two giants ...
- GM and Daimler Chrysler to join forces on hybrid program The Associated Press is reporting that the two automotive giants have "signed a memorandum of understanding" to develop and share hybrid technology for their vehicles. A more detailed agreement will b ...
- More hybrids = less batteries USA Today is reporting that automakers like Ford might find it hard in the next few years to find the expensive battery packs required to fuel hybrid cars like the new Escape. The expensive power pack ...
- Is the grass greener on the Accord Hybrid side? The Detroit News completed a quick road test of the new Honda Accord Hybrid and was a little disappointed. First, the review feeds into my view of hybrids right now: People buy the Prius in droves bec ...
- Autoguy discusses Peak Oil and how it could impact our precious babies And by precious babies I mean our cars. We try and stay away from being political at Autoblog but there's no arguing that fossil fuels of any kind run out and some say oil could start a decline soon, ...
- Governator's hybrids-in-HOV-lanes bill hits snag Although California recently passed a Schwarzenegger-sponsored bill to allow single-occupant hybrids to use highways' HOV lanes, a waiver from the federal government may be needed before the law can b ...
- Both "Hyundai" and "Hybrid" start with the same two letters-- coincidence? Actually, yeah, it is. However, this is absolutely not the reason Hyundai is gunning for a post-2007 US-market hybrid launch. Rather they're doing it because Toyota has been so overwhelmingly successf ...
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