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Old 11-21-2005, 02:51 PM
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Wolfman Wolfman is offline
Active Enthusiast
 
Real Name: Bryan
Hybrids: Ford Escape Hybrid
Posts: 82
Default Re: can someone educate me on hybrid cars compare to diesel engine cars???

Diesel Advantages:

Simpler engine design means less to fail
Lots of low end torque
Fuel economy gains more than offset higher fuel price compared to non hybrid cars.
Heavier duty design requirements from internal stresses result in much longer lived engine.
Lower HC, CO, and CO2 emissions than conventional gasoline engine.
Particulate emissions not as harmful as invisible particulates emitted by gasoline engines (not that you want to inhale them anyway).

Disadvantages:

Sluggish engine response to throttle makes diesels inherently slower than gasoline engines.
Few choices for diesel powered passenger cars force purchasing of vehicles with dubious reliability history.
Higher NOx and particulate emissions (ULSD fuel to mitigate this problem).
Diesel engines slow to warm up, making cabin colder longer.

Hybrid advantages:

Meets and sometimes exceeds diesel fuel economy
Lower cost of gasoline vs. diesel fuel
Priceless "cool" factor of full hybrid design, allowing driving with engine completely off.
Lower emissions than any technology on the road due to critical focus on same by designers.
Full hybrid "complexity" offset by elimination of starter, alternator, clutch, torque converter, transmission, power steering pump, etc.
Many state, federal, and in some cases, employer programs in place to offset added cost.

Hybrid disadvantages:

High initial cost makes long payoff if unable to utilize above mentioned programs.
More affected by environmental factors than non hybrid vehicles.
Batteries potential disposal problem despite companies setting up recycling programs as they cannot keep track of where wrecked vehicles end up.
Cool fuel economy computers make you irritate everyone else on the road while you play the "make the mileage go up game."

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