[Vwdiesel] negative aspects of burning water

[Ron Schroeder]

Hi James,

While the diesel isn't as bad to start with, a diesel will still benefit 
from a hybrid drivetrain.  The diesel does have a wider range of outputs 
where the Base Specific Fuel Consumption is still high but the farther away 
from the sweet spot, the worse the fuel consumption gets, just like in a gas 
engine, just not as bad.  Even if a diesel kept the same efficiency over 
it's entire power range, a hybrid would still benefit from the fuel savings 
of regenerative braking in stop and go driving and if the battery was big 
enough it could get some of it's range from outside electric sources.

My diesel/electric hybrid gained about 30% in town with regenerative 
braking.

Kenworth has just announced a hybrid diesel electric Class 6 truck.  It's 
the T270.

Ron Schroeder
WD8CDH


> Message: 4
> Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2007 23:55:16 -0600
> From: James Hansen <jhsg at sasktel.net>
>
> Ron S, in a diesel elecric hybrid, would not the returns be too small to
> justify the added costs?
> A diesel can be VERY efficient, but wouldn't the electrical losses add
> up faster than the mechanical losses in a straight mechanical drive
> diesel?   I know there is a net benefit in a gasser, mostly because the
> gasser is inherently shitty in terms of efficiency to start with.
> -james
> ****