Plug-in diesel hybrid VW
 

Cool. And only for $100k. I'll take two.

I wouldn't touch anything VW with a 10' pole, even if free.:uneasy: :wreck:

The thing that gets me about these claimed MPG's is there is no accounting for the electricity you use to charge it up.
Its high time the hybrid mob came clean about the true cost of their toys.

Either way, autos are going the way of the diesel locomotive, which is a good thing. We'll have 80 mpg easy in a few years using this old skool tech! Plus, if you run the diesel on bio, you're near as carbon neutral as can be in a non -Flinstone powered mechanical conveyance.

The diesel-electric locomotive is a less efficient way to transmit power than a mechanical transmission. It is used because it is a convenient way to get a heavy load moving without a complicated gear train. The efficiency comes from steel wheels on steel rails, not the diesel-electric drive.

Thats unfortunate for you I guess. I've got a TDI Jetta wagon with 165k miles on it that has only needed normal routine maintenance, and get 43mpg. How come you're so leery of VW.

Actually they do factor electricity into the figure, or at least attempt to do so on the US models. The Nissan Leaf did anyway.

I had a 2003 VW Jetta TDI. It had right at 180,000 miles on it when I treaded it. It was faultless, and never even had to replace the fuel filter. It had the 5 speed gear box, and I was always impressed with the get up and go. I thought my 240 diesel was reliable, but it wasn't even in the arena with the Jetta!

Wants! But it will probably cost an arm and a leg. If only they would offer a car like the Volt with a diesel.. if only...

I would! I hear there's a market for parts... ;)

I agree...and along with the cost goes the environmental damage caused by the extra electricity coming from COAL plants.

Volvo's got this ...

Volvo Details Diesel-Electric Plug-In Hybrid, Gas Version Coming To U.S.

But why the plug-in diesel hybrid? Why not just a diesel hybrid? I would think a Prius with a diesel engine in it would get considerably better mileage at hwy speeds upping the EPA average fuel economy.

Plug-ins allow the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) crowd to move the carbon foot print elsewhere, like electricity from the wall is "magic" somehow.

Agree that a regenerative diesel would be a better way to go....but no one has asked me (us).

Around 50% of the electricity delivered to customers by our local investor owned utility is from carbon-free sources (hydro, nuclear, and renewables). So plugging in allows the "NIMBY crowd" to access this at a very low cost. Some plug in customers in CA can access a rate structure for plug in vehicles that costs about $0.05 per kWh. So basically, plugging in at night can be incredibly cheap and relatively clean. Combine that with a diesel vehicle running on biodiesel, and you have a pretty clean way to get around.