Diesel Electric Hybrid Car
Because of the low existing numbers for diesel cars in the United States, many analysts see the highest growth potential for diesel hybrids there. One of the reasons for this is that diesel has better fuel economy than gasoline, and therefore, the diesel hybrids are potentially capable of offering fuel economies that are better than the corresponding figures for gasoline hybrids. The demand for these hybrids may be existing, but the supply has lagged this demand so far. However, beyond Ford, many other smaller manufacturers have started making concept and production models, including the Engima diesel hybrid. The diesel engines have other advantages over gasonline engines, such as being able to deliver constant power for long periods of time with less wear while operating at higher efficiency. What's more, most diesel vehicles can use 100% pure biofuels (biodiesel), increasing the advantage in environmental terms over pure gasoline mixes. Some of the first automobile categories to adopt diesel-electric hybrid set ups were commercial vehicles (particularly buses). In Europe, some of the car manufacturers that have been in the forefront of diesel drivetrain development include PSA Peugeot Citroën, which has, for example, a diesel-electric Peugeot 307, and Citroën C4 Hybride HDi, and Citroën C-Cactus under development in this category. Of the European brands, Volkswagen has unveiled a prototype car for diesel-electric hybrid car market with 2 L/100 km (140 mpg-imp; 120 mpg-US) fuel economy. The GM European brand Opel has also been developing a Opel Astra Diesel Hybrid version thus far.
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