Quote:
Originally Posted by spinner
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My experience with consumer car diesel is that it's not as reliable and enduring as its proponents make it out to be. Whether it be clogged EGR valves, turbo failures, extra-sensitivity to oil levels, engine vibration causing leaky hose joints, it turns out to be a paradoxically high-maintenance engine.
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That makes a lot of sense and explains the disparity between long-haul trucker experience and what we see in consumer vehicles. However, I suspect the marrage of a diesel and hybrid, especially a hybrid with significant power, say 2/3 hybrid and 1/3 diesel would work. Today, our gas hybrids are 1/3 hybrid and 2/3 gas.
The reason for a stronger ratio diesel-hybrid is this lets the diesel run longer in computer controlled power levels while the stronger electric system handles peak loads. IMHO, the biggest problem with ICE operation is variable power demands. If we can insulate the actual operation and have computer management, a lot of difficult problems such as condensation of combusion products, lubrication and cooling go away.
Bob Wilson