New VW TDI Hybrid Concept Car to Get 69 MPG

[Mugu]

By Benjamin F.T. Jones

With fuel economy reminiscent of the late VW Lupo, the new VW Golf Diesel Hybrid Concept seems to address the growing schism between American and Japanese hybrids and European Diesels.

Green Car Congress recently reported on the unveiling of the car at the Geneva Auto Show. VW couples a new 7-speed DSG transmission with a 1.2-liter, TDI diesel engine and an electric motor capable of operating in all electric mode. The diesel engine puts out a max of 74 hp and 132 kb-ft of torque, and its electric counterpart puts out 20 kW and 103 lb-ft of torque at its peak. This new diesel hybrid sounds like anything but your stereotypical, gutless economy car.

The car features regenerative braking and electric-only operation from a stop until a high enough speed is reached that it requires a switch-over to the diesel engine. From the switch-over the car is powered primarily by the diesel engine unless extra power is required. This combination is what allows the car to achieve its stellar mileage (69 US MPG) in the body of your standard VW Golf.

To compliment the new drivetrain, VW has done several aerodynamic modifications that decrease drag and increase fuel efficiency. Though none are drastic, they include lowering of the vehicle and minimizing the grille opening on the front of the car.



Complete article at:
http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/vw-hybrid-gas-mileage-460325

[JackintheGreen]

1. I'd buy it in a second

I've long bemoaned the unavailability of diesels in the US, and a hybrid is just cool. I currently drive a VW GTi. It 'requires' 91 at the pump (yeesh!), but it does fine with 89 and still get 30+/gallon. And that's city! Still, if I could double that...

[n2doc]

13. You can't have it!

Yet another "concept" car. Bleah. I am really sick and tired of companies putting out high economy "concepts". We need these cars available now, not at some unspecified time in the distant (and always receding) future!

There is absolutely no reason why these vehicles can't be sold now. Basic hybrid tech is proven. Diesels already get amazing fuel economy if designed for real people's needs. (e.g. not to pull a locomotive or go 200 mph).

[alfredo]

14. Let's say it is in Beta or developer preview.

[natrat]

2. nice-in the mean time golf tdi on its way here

[lutefisk]

3. Great number for an ad campaign...

"Wine me, dine me, 69 mpg me: The new VW Golf Diesel Hybrid."

[baldguy]

4. Does the IRS still give tax breaks to people who buy Hummers?

And we wonder why we have problems.

[Eurobabe]

5. Check this out, Audi R8, V12 TDI, 5.5L, 500hp, 23 miles to the gallon

Who says sports cars can't go green?

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/01/10/detroit-2008-preview-video-of-the-audi-r8-v12-tdi-737lb-ft-and/

[flvegan]

8. Have you seen the Tesla roadster?

0-60 in 3.9, all electric. No oil, one moving part. Good looking car, too.

http://www.teslamotors.com/

[Eurobabe]

12. Very cool. A bit cheaper than the Audi

but unfortunately not available in Europe. I wish Europe would introduce more electric cars in general. They seem to be really slow with Hybrids over here :(

Only Prius here, which really surprises me. :shrug:

[flvegan]

6. Good looking and versatile package, too.

[juno jones]

7. YES!

I spent my teenage crusin' years in my dad's Rabbit diesel. 50 mpg. Great car. And it was still running 15 years later when I needed a car and ran for 2 more (not counting parts that were put into yet another Rabbit Diesel which ran for nearly 4 more after that...).

Glad to see the technology is progressing,

[papau]

9. Same mpg numbers Clinton/Gore standard parts Ford in 2000 was able to get from

the Bush discontinued Government/Industry Car research done via the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles


GM, Ford, and Chrysler all created working concept vehicles of 5 passenger famly cars that achieved at least 72 mpg <4>. GM created the 80 mpg Precept, Ford created the 72 mpg Prodigy, and Chrysler created the 72 mpg ESX-3.

Researchers for the PNGV identified a number of ways to reach 80 mpg including reducing vehicle weight, increasing engine efficiency, combining gasoline engines and electric motors in hybrid vehicles, implementing regenerative braking, and switching to high efficiency fuel cell powerplants. Specific new technology breakthroughs achieved under the program include <5>:
Development of carbon foam with extremely high heat conductivity (2000 R&D 100 Award)
Near frictionless carbon coating, many times slicker than Teflon (1998 R&D 100 Award)
Oxygen-rich air supplier for clean diesel technology (1999 R&D 100 Award)
Development of a compact microchannel fuel vaporizer to convert gasoline to hydrogen for fuel cells (1999 R&D 100 Award)
Development of aftertreatment devices to remove nitrogen oxides from diesel exhaust with efficiencies greater than 90 percent, when used with diesel fuel containing 3 ppm of sulfur
Improvement of the overall efficiency and power-to-weight ratios of power electronics to within 25 percent of targets, while reducing cost by 86 percent to $10/kW since 1995
Reduction in cost of lightweight aluminum, magnesium, and glass-fiber-reinforced polymer components to less than 50 percent the cost of steel
Reduction in the costs of fuel cells from $10,000/kW in 1994 to $300/kW in 2000
Substantial weight reduction to within 5 to 10 percent of the vehicle weight reduction goal

[lumberjack_jeff]

10. Bout friggin time.

A diesel hybrid is long overdue.

[backscatter712]

11. SWEET!!! I want one!

I'm pretty happy with my current car - a 2000 Jetta, which is a solid daily-driver, and gets decent, though not earth-shattering gas milage - 24 city, 30 highway.

The TDI VWs get between 40 and 50 mpg with their ultra-efficient diesel engines.

Combine the TDI diesel with electric in a hybrid, you get two great tastes that go great together! 69 mpg!

[kestrel91316]

15. If it can handle biodiesel, maybe we're getting somewhere.

I'd want it to be able to burn both, keeping options open........