The pro’s and con’s of using diesel as a power source for regular and diesel hybrid cars

Volkswagen's 69.9-MPG Diesel Hybrid is currently under development 1.4-liter 74-horsepower three-cylinder TDI (turbo direct injection) which is mated to a 27-horsepower electric motor and a seven- speed double-clutch DSG (direct shift gearbox) transmission. There's a nickel-metal hydride battery in the trunk; a regenerative braking system helps keep it charged.

According to Auto Bild, the hybrid Golf will get 69.9 mpg and emit 90 g/km of carbon dioxide. An earlier report by Britain's Auto Express said 89 g/km, but either way that's less than the 104 g/km emitted by the Prius and 116 emitted by the Honda Civic Hybrid.

If diesel engines are so efficient, why don't we use them more often? You might see the words "diesel engine" and think of big, hefty cargo trucks spewing out black, sooty smoke and creating a loud clattering noise.

Diesel engines has started a new revolution in better fuel efficiency medialink/4685-diesel-cars-from-gm- video.htm

Current diesel engines work off high compression in order to start the process of combustion. Compared to a gasoline engine which normally has a compression ratio of a 8:1 to as high as 13.5:1 and needs an external ignition source start the process of combustion.

Diesel engines on the other hand have a compression ratio between 14:1 to 25:1 The reason the compression ratio is so high on a diesel engine is that when air and diesel fuel are mixed and compressed at such a high ratio it self ignites and no external ignition source is need to start this process

Diesel fuel has a higher energy density than gasoline. On average, 1 gallon (3.8 L) of diesel fuel contains approximately 155x10 6 joules (147,000 BTU), while 1 gallon of gasoline contains 132x10 6 joules (125,000 BTU). This, combined with the improved efficiency of diesel engines, explains why diesel engines get better mileage than equivalent gasoline engines.

Diesel emits very small amounts of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide, emissions that lead to global warming Diesel engines get better fuel economy compared to gasoline engines.

High amounts of nitrogen compounds and particulate matter (soot) are released from burning diesel fuel, which lead to acid rain, smog and poor health conditions

Better-refined diesel fuels such as ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) will lower the amount of harmful emissions and upgrading engines to make them compatible with cleaner fuel is becoming a simpler process Oil from corn and soy are now being used as fuels for diesels and have very low emissions

CRT particulate filters and catalytic converters burn soot and reduce particulate matter, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons by as much as 90 percent

How does a CRT Particulate filter work? The CRT traps Hydrocarbons and Nitrogen Oxide Once the CRT is heated to a certain temperature usually above 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, which is called the commonly referred to as the regeneration mode this is when the trapped Hydrocarbons and Nitrogen Oxide are burned off