I was going to say "kill two birds with one stone" but that wouldn't be nice 
Interest in hybrids down, diesels up
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Lexus Champion
Joined: May 2006
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From: FL
Interest in hybrids down, diesels up
This is good news, as far as I'm concerned. Bring on the diesels!
http://www.leftlanenews.com/jd-power...dwindling.html
http://www.leftlanenews.com/jd-power...dwindling.html
Despite increases in the price of gas in the last few months, it appears that fewer and fewer consumers are putting vehicles with hybrid powertrains on their shopping list. According to industry experts J.D. Power, consumers with interested in hybrids dropped from 57 percent in 2006 to 50 percent for the early summer months in '07, a significant figure for such a short period of time.
The study, which was conducted during May and June '06 and again in the same period of '07, found that, despite gas still hovering around $3.00 U.S. per gallon, consumer interest in hybrids has dropped.
The study did find that more and more consumers are putting diesel cars on their lists, however. In '06, just 12 percent of buyers were looking at diesels; now, nearly twice as many, 23 percent, have diesels on their shopping lists. Interestingly, the number of diesel cars on the new car market has dropped since then. The Volkswagen Jetta TDI, one of the biggest volume diesel cars in the U.S., didn't meet 2007 regulations. Volkswagen will be introducing a 50-state diesel car shortly. Jeep offered a diesel Liberty in '06; it didn't meet the '07 regulations, but a diesel Grand Cherokee with a Mercedes-Benz-developed engine was released in Spring '07.
The study, which was conducted during May and June '06 and again in the same period of '07, found that, despite gas still hovering around $3.00 U.S. per gallon, consumer interest in hybrids has dropped.
The study did find that more and more consumers are putting diesel cars on their lists, however. In '06, just 12 percent of buyers were looking at diesels; now, nearly twice as many, 23 percent, have diesels on their shopping lists. Interestingly, the number of diesel cars on the new car market has dropped since then. The Volkswagen Jetta TDI, one of the biggest volume diesel cars in the U.S., didn't meet 2007 regulations. Volkswagen will be introducing a 50-state diesel car shortly. Jeep offered a diesel Liberty in '06; it didn't meet the '07 regulations, but a diesel Grand Cherokee with a Mercedes-Benz-developed engine was released in Spring '07.
I think people are more interested in new technology in general. Just because interest in diesels are new and people want to learn more, doesn't mean that the hybrid market is "not hot" nor lack interest...
Pole Position
Joined: May 2007
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From: NY
Why does one technology have to be compared with the other? OK, so interest in diesels are up, but what does that have to do with interest in hybrids? As Toyota claims, hybrids are the future - whether they are petrol/electric, diesel/electric, or even hydrogen/electric. I just don't think the hybrid technology needs to constantly be scrutinized or be compared to other powertrain sources when they can all equally coexist.
Are diesels more fuel efficient that petrol engines? yes. So why can't they be used for hybrid technology as well? I don't understand why more people aren't talking about and pushing the idea of diesel hybrids. IMO, you would get the best of both worlds - excellent fuel efficiency & massive amounts of torque.
Are diesels more fuel efficient that petrol engines? yes. So why can't they be used for hybrid technology as well? I don't understand why more people aren't talking about and pushing the idea of diesel hybrids. IMO, you would get the best of both worlds - excellent fuel efficiency & massive amounts of torque.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,574
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Doesn't surprise me a bit. I could see this coming 2-3 years ago....I said so back then, and many times since, that as better-quality and higher-technology diesels and diesel fuel became available, people would see that diesels give roughly the same mileage but with much less complexity and expense than hybrids...and now the newer diesels don't pollute either, like the older ones did. Even cleaner diesels are coming in the future as the engineers perfect urea-injection systems.
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,574
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Unfortunately, Toyota may not be correct....especially in the long run.
Are diesels more fuel efficient that petrol engines? yes. So why can't they be used for hybrid technology as well? I don't understand why more people aren't talking about and pushing the idea of diesel hybrids. IMO, you would get the best of both worlds - excellent fuel efficiency & massive amounts of torque.
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Lexus Champion
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From: California
IMO, hybrids could 1 day be GREAT, but were just not there yet. Im curious how the fully electric Tesla Roadster will drive. Ive driven every hybrid sedan on the market right now and they all have many flaws(too many) imo. We just need to get the negatives assoc. w/ hybrids low enough where the positives outweigh them and make them better choices.. whether it be increasing fuel economy, lowering cost, reducing lag, etc... + We will make fuel cells compact enough and then there are alternatives we havent even thought of yet. In the meantime, clean Diesels seem like the most attractive option for increasing fuel economy imo.
Last edited by JAC JZS; Jul 16, 2007 at 07:21 PM.
Lexus Champion
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I just had my first 59mpg tank and I'm currently hovering betwen 56 and 59mpg... and I'm not even on flat land!
Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
Joined: May 2006
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From: FL
I hope that Toyota is paying attention to this trend.
Lead Lap
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: NC
Isuzu
I am pretty sure that they are - that is why they bought in2 Isuzu, if I recollect correctly.
If diesels give the same mileage @ a lower cost & does not take up trunk space - I would probably go that route. However, it so cool that w/ a hybrid, 1 could roll around silently. Granted that sounds kinda sketch but still....
If diesels give the same mileage @ a lower cost & does not take up trunk space - I would probably go that route. However, it so cool that w/ a hybrid, 1 could roll around silently. Granted that sounds kinda sketch but still....
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,792
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From: so. cal
And this being the case, I just don't see gas-hybrid vehicles as making any sense at all. Why would someone want to pay more for a hybrid that returns the same results as a less complex and lower weight diesel powerplant? I can see the TV commercials now... and they won't paint a very pretty picture for the hybrids.
I hope that Toyota is paying attention to this trend.
I hope that Toyota is paying attention to this trend.
