Yes, but it would cost a whole lot more. More equipment. A more expensive engine to produce, the motor/generators, the control electronics, the batteries, well you get the picture. The batteries would end up making it heavier, thus requiring heavier springs and shocks. You might not get all that much better $/mile, especially if considering total cost of ownership (more stuff to break as well as higher initial cost)
>> I suspect a diesel-electric hybrid with regen brakes
>> and solar assist could easily best this Honda gassy.
> Yes, but it would cost a whole lot more.
That's not clear to me (I'm willing to be mistaken).
Keep in mind that after trying all sorts of stuff, the
railroads, where they weren't already pure electric,
went to diesel-electric 60 years ago and never looked
back. Their latest, the "Green Goat" yard switcher,
still uses diesel to charge the running batteries.
> More equipment. A more expensive engine to produce,
Why would a diesel IC engine be substantially different
from an NG IC engine in that regard.
> The batteries would end up making it heavier, thus
> requiring heavier springs and shocks.
For vehicles of comparable size and weight, the only
real difference would be the engine and tank, and my
guess is that diesel's high energy density actually
allows a smaller tank than LNG.
> You might not get all that much better $/mile,
> especially if considering total cost of ownership
> (more stuff to break as well as higher initial cost)
That's quite likely already true for this new hybrid,
and any "new" technology auto.
We looked at gasoline-electrics (Civic and Prius)
before buying the TDI. Real-world reports suggested
that batteries and cold weather gave lie to the
claimed mpg figures. The TDI figures were lies too,
but within expected tolerances. On the whole, we
have no regrets about going pure diesel, but I keep
an eye on developments.
This news article strikes me as another GM EV1
"PC car", whose economics rely on politics, and
not physics.