Diesels? Hybrids? Another 10 years max

GTO · 5th March 2005, 00:39

Not my words but those of Laurent Aebi - Product Specialist at Honda.

Diesel is still sweeping Europe. Hybrids are catching on in North America and Japan. But these trends are only short-term, as the industry prepares for the day the world's fuel reserves dry up, some auto engineers said Wednesday.

Nearly every automaker is showing off its latest hybrid cars, fuel cell models or electric prototypes, along with the latest diesel options at the 75th International Motor Show in Geneva.

"Diesel is popular in Europe, clearly, but it's a short-term trend," said Laurent Aebi, a product specialist at Honda Motor Co., which was displaying its new FCX fuel cell car, powered by an electric motor that uses hydrogen as its energy source. "I give it another 10 years maximum. After that it will be the hybrid car.

What do you think? Diesel technology in recent times has certainly overtaken the rate of pace in petrol engine technology.

But are we going to be running fuel cell cars in the next decade? Is the world actually going to run out of oil for automotive consumption?

I dread to imagine starting a car that does not make any engine noise. Nothing. No vroom. No free flow. Much like switching your cell phone on and off.

GTO

Source : Business Week Article

v1p3r · 5th March 2005, 02:08

why wasnt i born in 1954? first i miss led zeppelin and black sabbath concerts, and now this!

the only viper i'll ever drive will look like my electrical lecturer's dream machine.

but then, even an electric car is ok if its a

viper

drifter · 5th March 2005, 08:02

i'd prefer a diesel if i had an option between an electric n diesel. What about bio-diesel...? It can be an alternative when the conventional fossil fuels are done.

Drifter

Deeps · 6th March 2005, 19:24

Damn it! I feel so unlucky to be born in this era. The cars are getting better and better while the fuel is getting less and less. I agree with GTO. I too dread the day when we won't have petrol engines. You can't call something a car that has no ICE. I really hope that instead of relying on electricty to power cars in the future, someone compes up with a more innovative method such as...sunflower oil?

Shan2nu · 8th March 2005, 18:20

Quote:

i'd prefer a diesel if i had an option between an electric n diesel.

Well, if i were to buy a Hybrid car, i'd prefer one with an electric and diesel combo, rather than an electric and petrol combo.

Shan2nu

drifter · 8th March 2005, 18:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shan2nu

Well, if i were to buy a Hybrid car, i'd prefer one with an electric and diesel combo, rather than an electric and petrol combo.

Shan2nu

Enlighten us on your choice shan.

Drifter

Gordon · 8th March 2005, 18:34

I'd take a electric-petrol Hybrid car. Its cheaper coz there is very less fuel consumption. But the electric-diesel will be much cheaper coz the diesel prices are lower.

Shan2nu · 8th March 2005, 18:40

Quote:

Enlighten us on your choice shan.

Well, typically a hybrid car uses both, an electric motor and a petrol engine. When the car is idling or cruising, the petrol engine is switched off. This saves fuel, but the moment the car feels the need to accelerate the petrol engine takes over and while this is happening the battery is getting charged.

So in a way, both the electric motor and the petrol engine compliment each other and help save/conserve energy. That, is what makes these cars very fuel efficient.

But imagine a diesel engine instead of a petrol one. Wouldn't that be much more economical? So, while a petrol hybrid would give around 35kmpl, a diesel hybrid could manage a minimum of 40 kmpl. And since diesel is cheaper than petrol, this combo really makes the hybrid, worth while.

In some cars, braking force or deceleration is also used to charge the battery. They're basically using kinetic energy to make electric energy.

Shan2nu

drifter · 8th March 2005, 18:48

with u shan,

but actually in my first post...what i meant was that i'd rather have an internal combustion engine than an electric motor under the hood of my car.

Nothing beats the sound of even a diesel engine to a whine of an electric motor.

Bio-diesel is said to be the fuel of the future amoung others....i'd be happy to run a diesel to a hybrid.

Drifter

5th March 2005, 00:39	#1
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,546 Thanked: 300,788 Times View My Garage	Diesels? Hybrids? Another 10 years max Not my words but those of Laurent Aebi - Product Specialist at Honda. Diesel is still sweeping Europe. Hybrids are catching on in North America and Japan. But these trends are only short-term, as the industry prepares for the day the world's fuel reserves dry up, some auto engineers said Wednesday. Nearly every automaker is showing off its latest hybrid cars, fuel cell models or electric prototypes, along with the latest diesel options at the 75th International Motor Show in Geneva. "Diesel is popular in Europe, clearly, but it's a short-term trend," said Laurent Aebi, a product specialist at Honda Motor Co., which was displaying its new FCX fuel cell car, powered by an electric motor that uses hydrogen as its energy source. "I give it another 10 years maximum. After that it will be the hybrid car. What do you think? Diesel technology in recent times has certainly overtaken the rate of pace in petrol engine technology. But are we going to be running fuel cell cars in the next decade? Is the world actually going to run out of oil for automotive consumption? I dread to imagine starting a car that does not make any engine noise. Nothing. No vroom. No free flow. Much like switching your cell phone on and off. GTO Source : Business Week Article
	() Thanks

5th March 2005, 02:08	#2
v1p3r Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: BLR / DXB / LON Posts: 5,334 Thanked: 6,896 Times View My Garage	why wasnt i born in 1954? first i miss led zeppelin and black sabbath concerts, and now this! the only viper i'll ever drive will look like my electrical lecturer's dream machine. but then, even an electric car is ok if its a viper
	() Thanks

5th March 2005, 08:02	#3
drifter Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,488 Thanked: 75 Times View My Garage	i'd prefer a diesel if i had an option between an electric n diesel. What about bio-diesel...? It can be an alternative when the conventional fossil fuels are done. Drifter
	() Thanks

6th March 2005, 19:24	#4
Deeps Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Delhi/Noida Posts: 1,116 Thanked: 170 Times	Damn it! I feel so unlucky to be born in this era. The cars are getting better and better while the fuel is getting less and less. I agree with GTO. I too dread the day when we won't have petrol engines. You can't call something a car that has no ICE. I really hope that instead of relying on electricty to power cars in the future, someone compes up with a more innovative method such as...sunflower oil?
	() Thanks

8th March 2005, 18:34	#7
Gordon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 2,546 Thanked: 483 Times View My Garage	I'd take a electric-petrol Hybrid car. Its cheaper coz there is very less fuel consumption. But the electric-diesel will be much cheaper coz the diesel prices are lower.
	() Thanks

8th March 2005, 18:48	#9
drifter Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,488 Thanked: 75 Times View My Garage	with u shan, but actually in my first post...what i meant was that i'd rather have an internal combustion engine than an electric motor under the hood of my car. Nothing beats the sound of even a diesel engine to a whine of an electric motor. Bio-diesel is said to be the fuel of the future amoung others....i'd be happy to run a diesel to a hybrid. Drifter
	() Thanks