# Why petrol and not diesel-electric hybrid cars? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 28, 2005, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-petrol-and-not-diesel-electric-hybrid-cars/292274 "2005-02-28T10:21:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-petrol-and-not-diesel-electric-hybrid-cars/292274/1 "2005-02-28T10:21:37Z")
Just a thought, a magazine article put a petrol and diesel hatchbacks against a Honda hybrid for a petrol consumption test. The petrol hatchback came out worst (unsurprisingly) but the Honda did no better than the diesel out of town and in town, in fact significantly worse given the greater cost of the hybrid. I was just wondering why there are no diesel-electric hybrids available? Wouldn’t it really be the best of both worlds? Or is it for US/Japanese car drivers who (as far as I know) prefer petrol engines to diesel, the opposite of how European cars seem to be headed? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-petrol-and-not-diesel-electric-hybrid-cars/292274/2 "2005-02-28T11:26:17Z")
I suspect that one big factor in the US is that not all service stations sell diesel fuel for automobibles. A diesel-hybrid would have much more limited fueling options than a petrol/gasoline-hybrid. This is also one reason why diesel cars aren’t common in the US, although they do exist. Thought it’s probably not an insurmountable obstacle. ---
**Author:** ![MarkyDeSade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@MarkyDeSade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarkyDeSade)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-petrol-and-not-diesel-electric-hybrid-cars/292274/3 "2005-02-28T11:58:44Z")
There were a few hybrid diesel/electric heavy-duty vehicle prototypes at the last car show here in Tokyo. Keep your eyes peeled - you might see a production version soon. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-petrol-and-not-diesel-electric-hybrid-cars/292274/4 "2005-02-28T11:59:03Z")
According to the local paper (automotive section), Dodge has one in the wings for 2006. Article\* sez they’ve been making this version for the military and are bringing it to the civilian market. Available in half- or three-quarter ton trucks. \*operating from memory. article was a coupla months ago. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-petrol-and-not-diesel-electric-hybrid-cars/292274/5 "2005-02-28T12:42:57Z")
It should be interesting since the diesel market is booming in Europe. Dad already gets 50 odd mpg from his Saab at the moment a hybrid should be quite something. ---
**Author:** ![Anachronism](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Anachronism](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anachronism)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-petrol-and-not-diesel-electric-hybrid-cars/292274/6 "2005-02-28T13:50:02Z")
Sorry I can’t dig up any cites, but from what I have read in various magazine articles the big problem (in the USA) is the way the emissions laws are written. Diesel engines typically have high particulate emissions (IE soot) and have a hard time meeting US emissions laws. Car manufacturers are working on various ways to reduce the soot generated by diesel engines. ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-petrol-and-not-diesel-electric-hybrid-cars/292274/7 "2005-02-28T14:46:29Z")
[Dodge](http://www.hybridcars.com/ram.html) has just begun limited production of a “mild” hybrid Ram pickup, combining a diesel engine and a sort of oversized electric starter motor. The mildness is reflected by the rather modest 15% increase in mileage. There have certainly been diesel-electric _concept_ cars – the PNGV partnerhip led to hybrid diesel passenger car concepts for example – but I’m not aware of any commercial versions on the market, at least in the US ([PDF on the history of diesel-electric hybrids](http://www.dieselforum.org/whitepaper/downloads/diesel-electric.pdf), including some info on busses and the like, if you’re interested). I suspect the lack of diesel-electric hybrids is a reflection of the relative unpopularity of diesel passenger cars in the US, for a variety of reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-petrol-and-not-diesel-electric-hybrid-cars/292274/8 "2005-02-28T15:16:44Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I suspect that one big factor in the US is that not all service stations sell diesel fuel for automobibles. A diesel-hybrid would have much more limited fueling options I’ve owned a diesel car, and it’s really not a big issue. Certainly a minority of stations sell diesel fuel, but given that nearly all large trucks use it, there’s almost no place you can go where it’s really hard to find. Add in the fact that diesel vehicles tend to have excellent range (normal sized tank & low fuel consumption) and you don’t have a problem reaching the next pump. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-petrol-and-not-diesel-electric-hybrid-cars/292274/9 "2005-02-28T15:21:07Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > It should be interesting since the diesel market is booming in Europe. It is, but the good fuel economy of diesel engines is only part of the reason. It probably has as much to do with the fact that diesel fuel is consistently taxed at a significantly lower rate than is petrol. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-petrol-and-not-diesel-electric-hybrid-cars/292274/10 "2005-02-28T15:42:32Z")
The Volvo Enviromental concept Car from the early 90’s was powered by diesel. The diesel was used to power a turbine engine, running a high speed high voltage generator. Anyway getting back to the issue at hand, besides emission requirements, if you have been around a hybrid the gas engine will start and stop as the state of charge of the battery requires. This is not the best way to run a diesel, and diesels are the fastest starting engines out there. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-petrol-and-not-diesel-electric-hybrid-cars/292274/11 "2005-02-28T15:54:20Z")
:smack: NOT the fastest starting engine out there :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-petrol-and-not-diesel-electric-hybrid-cars/292274/12 "2005-02-28T16:11:16Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > It is, but the good fuel economy of diesel engines is only part of the reason. It probably has as much to do with the fact that diesel fuel is consistently taxed at a significantly lower rate than is petrol. I’ve heard it was quite cheap on the Continent, but in the UK at least its still slightly higher than Unleaded. Last time I checked at least, living next to the Irish border my parents hop across for cheap fuel all the time. When I went to buy petrol here in Belfast it felt so wrong buying such expensive fuel 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-petrol-and-not-diesel-electric-hybrid-cars/292274/13 "2005-02-28T23:23:06Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > NOT the fastest starting engine out there True of diesel engines that are cold; when warm, they start readily. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-petrol-and-not-diesel-electric-hybrid-cars/292274/14 "2005-02-28T23:34:13Z")
> [@Anachronism](#): > > Sorry I can’t dig up any cites, but from what I have read in various magazine articles the big problem (in the USA) is the way the emissions laws are written. Diesel engines typically have high particulate emissions (IE soot) and have a hard time meeting US emissions laws. Car manufacturers are working on various ways to reduce the soot generated by diesel engines. Interesting considering at least here in CA deisel vehicles are exempt from emissions testing. I used to own a Volkswagen Rabbit Deisel, 58 MPG. I used to drive to a neighboring town where deisel was consistently 20-25 cents a gallon cheaper and it was worth the extra 15 miles.