Why have no car companies made a vehicle that uses Diesel/Electric?

Question

Trains have been doing this for years. I see VW TDI Jetta's getting 40+ miles to the gallon. Hybrids get 40-60. Why have no companies combined the two technologies into one?

Answer 1

I agree that a diesel-electric hybrid would be a good combination. But the time of the hybrid may be passing, now that practical electric cars are finally arriving.
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Several electric vehicle projects are in development. Here's one of the first to actually be manufactured:
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http://phoenixmotorcars.com/models/fleet.html
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The Phoenix electric pickup truck - using new, advanced Altairnano batteries (based on research from MIT) - can:

-Travel up to 250 miles per charge
-Carry 5 passengers plus cargo at 95mph.
-Charges batteries in as little as TEN MINUTES.
-Has batteries that last 250,000 miles (never need replacement.)
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Yes, it is a real car - being manufactured right now for fleet customers like PG&E. But wait, there's more - here's another vehicle using the same batteries:
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http://www.slashgear.com/zap-x-suv-is-644bhp-electric-monster-303661.php
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This "electric monster" sports 644 horsepower, and will do 155mph. It has a 350-mile range, and can also recharge in 10 minutes.
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Traveling on electricity is cheap - as little as a penny per mile. And even if powerplants burn dirty fuel, electric cars cause very little pollution, thanks to their extremely high efficiency.
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Answer 2

Vehicles like locomotives, earth movers and buses do not have much of a problem with weight. A Diesel-electric car has the extra weight of an alternator/generator and drive motors to deal with. If you put the drive motors on the wheels you have a problem with unsprung weight. If you use a single electric motor you still need a differential and perhaps a gearbox for reverse if nothing else. If all these can be made light enough there is the chance a Diesel-electric car could be in your future.

A hundred years ago Daimler made a truck prime mover that had a generator. This was connected to motors built into trailers. The thing was used to move wool at Haddon Rig, a big wool growing property in Australia. It was not a success.

Answer 3

A very simple reason.

The industry was holding its breath waiting for the Feds to finalize tough new emissions laws for diesels. (why spend billions to develop an engine when you don't know what emissions spec it has to meet?) The law has arrived. (you may recall seeing stickers to that effect on diesel fuel pumps.) It's a huge change in the fuel, akin to the "unleaded gas" changeover in the 70's. There's also a huge change in emissions requirements for diesels.

Now you're seeing the whole industry go gangbusters back to diesels. You'll see many new models of automotive diesels, and not just from the usual makers. No hybrids have been announced yet, but one step at a time. It's an obvious next step.

Answer 4

a diesel engine is already very efficient at the part of the powerband where an electric motor would be worth using, and on trains, the diesels just run electric generators that power the train, they do not actually drive the train.

Answer 5

i agree

i drive a jetta tdi which already gets great mileage (and isnt as ugly as a prius)

i would gladly purchase a diesel hybrid if it came on the market... high torque, low emissions, amazing mileage...

Answer 6

Ford is working on a hydrogen fuel cell to generate electricity.

Answer 7

They do... for the buses.

http://www.hybridcenter.org/hybrid-transit-buses.html

Answer 8

it would be too fuel efficient they only want you to get so many mpg you know