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Volvo Announces Diesel Hybrid for 2012
By 
Marty Padgett October 6th, 2008
Reporting from the Paris Auto Show, Automotive News claims that Volvo plans to introduce diesel/electric hybrid vehicles by 2012. This makes it the first confirmed plan to mate a diesel engine with an electric motor in a mass-production car. Volvo also plans to implement engine start-stop technology beginning on some 2009 vehicles.
The diesel hybrids will first appear in Volvo's larger sedans, crossovers, and SUVs. The system consists of a front-mounted, front-wheel-drive diesel powertrain and a rear-mounted, rear-wheel-drive electric propulsion system. It has electric-only capability at low speeds. Magnus Jonsson, Volvo's senior vice president of R&D, said that plug-in hybrid models will come "very quickly" after the first hybrid models become available.
Because both diesels and electric motors produce the bulk of their torque at low engine speeds, the combination of the two hasn't been a popular one where fossil fuel/electric hybrids are concerned. But, conceivably, proper gearing will help keep the diesel's RPM low enough while cruising to boost efficiency. This seems like an ideal setting for a CVT, where ratios can be adjusted infinitely.
Lex Kerssemakers, Volvo senior vice president for business and product strategy, said the firm is contemplating abandoning the V-8 engine that it recently installed under the hood of its S80 and XC90 vehicles. It will likely go back to turbocharged sixes if it nixes the V-8. Said Kerssemakers: "if the environment is changing, you can be stubborn, or you can look for alternatives."--Colin Mathews
The diesel hybrids will first appear in Volvo's larger sedans, crossovers, and SUVs. The system consists of a front-mounted, front-wheel-drive diesel powertrain and a rear-mounted, rear-wheel-drive electric propulsion system. It has electric-only capability at low speeds. Magnus Jonsson, Volvo's senior vice president of R&D, said that plug-in hybrid models will come "very quickly" after the first hybrid models become available.
Because both diesels and electric motors produce the bulk of their torque at low engine speeds, the combination of the two hasn't been a popular one where fossil fuel/electric hybrids are concerned. But, conceivably, proper gearing will help keep the diesel's RPM low enough while cruising to boost efficiency. This seems like an ideal setting for a CVT, where ratios can be adjusted infinitely.
Lex Kerssemakers, Volvo senior vice president for business and product strategy, said the firm is contemplating abandoning the V-8 engine that it recently installed under the hood of its S80 and XC90 vehicles. It will likely go back to turbocharged sixes if it nixes the V-8. Said Kerssemakers: "if the environment is changing, you can be stubborn, or you can look for alternatives."--Colin Mathews
Rex Roy
Responses (3 total)
By Ed | Posted: Oct 6th 2008, 06:55:29 PM
Of course, a DIESEL Hybrid is the most efficient Hybrid possible, in an ideal world. But you can count on Volvo to butcher the job and produce an inferior POS as most of its current offerings (no wonder its Sept. sales were down a DISMAL 51.8%!!!)
BUT, no matter who makes the diesel hybrid, it will be even more expensive than a gas-electric hybrid. SO it will be a tradeoff between a higher price and better MPG. I favor the diesel hybrid also because of the far superior durability and longevity of the diesel engine vs the gas one.
By OblioA | Posted: Oct 7th 2008, 12:53:00 AM
Anyone who can afford a $40,000 sedan doesn't really need to worry about saving gas money. So put a 50 mpg diesel-hybrid in a $16,000 car that the working class can afford!
By Ed | Posted: Oct 7th 2008, 11:26:07 AM
OblioA
it is 100% IMPOSSIBLE, even if you make them in CHINA, to make diesel-electric hybrids for $16,000. Even th4e gas-electric Prius clone Hunda Insight can't sell for less than $19,000, and if it were diesel, it would sell for at least $22k.
Also, it is NOT true that a $40k sedan owner does not worry aboiut fuel economy, there are Lybrids that cost well over 100k!!! (lexus 460 hl)
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