Are Plug-In Diesel Hybrids The Way Forward?
Monday, 13. August 2018
Mercedes announced earlier this year that their Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) E and C Class cars would be diesel-electric as opposed to the majority of PHEV’s which are petrol-electric. As most people know, diesel cars already emit less CO2 than their petrol equivalents so by adding the diesel engine to a 90KW electric motor the CO2 emissions reduce even further.
So whilst some manufacturers reacted far too quickly (in my opinion) to the adverse reporting on diesel engine emissions by removing diesels from all future development some are embracing the combined benefits of diesel-electric compared to petrol-electric. But as with normal diesels the picture is far from clear. No thanks to the Government.
For example, Peugeot had a diesel-electric plugin but due to poor sales announced in 2016 that it would be dropping it. In 2012 Volvo had a diesel-electric plug-in but dropped it in favour of petrol-electric followed by recent announcements to go all-electric next year (2019) with every car they sell having an electric motor.
Audi and Landrover favour a diesel-electric in the larger 4WD models although the new Land Rover models will be produced with petrol-electric combinations. Then there is Kia who announced earlier this year that they would be jumping on the diesel-electric boat with the launch of a Sportage and Ceed with diesel-electric power in 2018.
Confused? Yeah – me too! By Graham Hill
