This PDF has lots of info....

http://www.volkswagen-ir.de/fileadmi...328_hybrid.pdf

Some highlights....

Gives a history of VW hybrid research from 1991 - present.

Shows layout of 1.4l TDi (85kW) with 15kW electric motor assist arrangement of Golf ECOmotion. Torque up to 300 Nm!

Shows clear diagram of power combination mechanism internals.

Using NiMH, 15 kW, 35 kg battery.

Gasoline 1.4l TSi hybrid also described.

Gains from hybridisation:
Start/stop - 5%
Regeneration - 5%
Electric driving - 5%
Downsizing - 6%
Gearbox - 4%
Total - 25% cut in fuel consumption (62 mpg US for Golf).

But no mention of when any of these may come to market!!

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/ecotech/ecot.htm

Seems they have GM-itis: lots of show, no showroom.

'04 Seaside Pearl #7. Fumoto oil drain, mudflaps, rear bumper scuff protector & rear warn system, compass mirror, EV mode button, 8" subwoofer in right rear cubby & 6" subs under seats, power lumbar in the front seats, Coastaletech hitch w/ Aspen bike/snowboard rack. iPod2car, 2 amps, Alpine component speakers, and DVD video, solid 47 MPG @ 70000 miles.

I always figured that VW would skip hybridization in favor of making ultra-efficient diesels.

They seem to be talking both ways, pro/against hybrids:

http://www.automotivedigest.com/view...ticlesID=14606

Best Tank = 54.2 mpg (Sep. 9'06)
Best Trip = 61.9 mpg

Diesels use substantially less fuel on the highway? He's just jealous. Are these diesels not EVER in stop and go traffic? Do they magically ONLY use the highway? How do they get there, by helicopter? WHEN will clean diesels get here? Hybrids are here now, cleaner, and kick butt over any diesel in real-world driving. My opinion.

'04 Seaside Pearl #7. Fumoto oil drain, mudflaps, rear bumper scuff protector & rear warn system, compass mirror, EV mode button, 8" subwoofer in right rear cubby & 6" subs under seats, power lumbar in the front seats, Coastaletech hitch w/ Aspen bike/snowboard rack. iPod2car, 2 amps, Alpine component speakers, and DVD video, solid 47 MPG @ 70000 miles.

Yeah, i read that statement too about "hybrids are only good in stop and go traffic" and it made me laugh. I guess he's trying to say diesel car drivers should get out of their cars and push it through in stop and go traffic so it'll have higher mileage than hybrids He's talking as if hybrids arent getting good mileage in the highway, how significant is the difference gap between a VW TDI and a hyrbid like a prius or especially a HCHII? 2 - 3 MPG? is that even significant? And on top of that, hybrids are good in stop and go traffic.
These CEOs can say and promise whatever they want, "GM-itis" seems to be a common sign and symptom of a company who is lagging behind this hybrid/ fuel efficient car race. I dont really give a care for those prototypes (all show to me), i want to see some results and see those cars being displayed to be sold dealers around my area which can provide competent competition with no BS to the hybrids.

Actually, instead of saying "hybrids are only good in stop & go traffic", it's more accurate to say that hybrids are HIGHLY OPTIMIZED for stop and go traffic. But even at highway speed, the IMA/HSD is available for providing additional bursts of acceleration as needed, and thus taking some of the burden off the ICE.

But the hybrid critics never analize that for some reason.

This is a good point, though I woudln't even say they are optimized for stop and go traffic. Hybrids are far less wasteful in stop and go conditions than other cars as they don't need to idle the engine, and they can reclaim some of the energy wasted from braking. However, even with all that, gaining and losing momentum repeatedly is inherently less efficient than steady-state driving, where hybrids, and any other car, will do better. Also, hybrids do better than all but the most efficient diesels in highway driving as well (in part because there's more energy per gallon in diesel fuel).

One of the points I've repeatedly seen criticizing hybrids is that their regenerative braking only kicks in stop and go conditions, and that on the highway, all the battery equipment is essentially dead weight. (Of course at a steady speed, the extra inertia is irrelevant) Hybrids benefit efficiency in more way than just regenerative braking. One of the major advantages of hybrid power is that the torque available in the motors allows a much smaller, more efficiently tuned engine to achieve the same performance. This saves lots of fuel at steady speed cruising by reducing pumping losses that would be there in a normal gasoline engine (Diesels also have minimal partial-throttle pumping loss) The larger battery packs also allow the ability to "balance" loads on the engine caused by elecrtical accessories, power-steering, headlights, and air-conditioner, by charging more under light load, and backing off under heavy load.

Turbo-charged diesels nowadays kick butt over gassers, period. The torque is massive, and drivability every bit the equal of a gasser, and their longevity is legendary. I've had dozens of gassers, 2 hybrids (just got a 2007 HCHII to replace my 2004), and about 10 diesels trucks in my company, and drove the TDI Jetta. They just keep getting better, quieter, more powerful, and can run on many alternate type of oil with little or no modification. Now with the low sulphur fuel, and other innovations, including hybrid diesels, they will have an increasing peice of the market over the coming years.

Diesels are great, but from a monetary standpoint, I don't see them as superior.

I have a friend with an '06 Jetta TDI. She gets about 33-38 MPG mixed driving. I have a '07 TCH and get about 35-40 MPG mixed driving. Her car cost about the same as mine did.

Now fuel for my car is running about $0.15 less per gallon, so in short she is not getting better mileage and is paying more for the fuel. Also, the VW diesels are known for needing the timing belt changed every 75,000 miles. That is not an insignificant cost, but the battery in the hybrid might need replacement between 100,000 to 150,000 miles (unknow as there have been very few battery failures reported) which is also a not insignificant amount.

The VW Tdi does have good power, and can be tuned to have ungodly amounts of power, but on the other hand the TCH has plenty of power more most drivers.

Either way they are both good, but I don't think the current diesels are a financial benifit.

BTW, I own a diesel truck for the excess power it gives me when I need to tow, so I do believe in the diesel engine.