Hybrid vs. Diesel Car

A person can be confused, either to buy a diesel- powered car or gas-electric hybrid car, when he/she consider fuel economy as major factor in buying behavior of new vehicle. Both Hybrid and Diesel cars offers certain advantages which are listed below:

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1. Acceptance

• Diesel cars are common in Europe, but relatively rare in United States, where emission standards make them unattractive to auto makers.

• Hybrid cars, gain popularity after the introduction of Honda Insight and Toyota Prius.

2. Functions

• Hybrid electric cars enhance the fuel economy by using an electric motor to power the vehicle under certain conditions, battery packs store energy that would otherwise be wasted during braking and downhill coasting. Later, this energy combines with power the small gas engine to power the car.

• Diesel engine function much like conventional gasoline engines, except they are turned to burn diesel fuel, which is a different kind of petroleum based fuel with a high energy content, resulting in more power from less fuel.

3. Categories

• There are different types of hybrid-electric cars, Hybrid vehicles are categorized as “Mild hybrids” and “Full hybrids”, depending on how much fuel they save. Other kinds are Parallel hybrids and series hybrid, parallel hybrids, can use power from either the electric motor or gas engine, whereas series hybrids are always powered by the electric motor and use the gas engine as a generator to produce more power as required.

• Diesel engines are almost similar, with a minor difference, some use turbocharger to force extra air into the engine’s combustion chamber, resulting in more power from the same amount of fuel.

4. Models

• Hybrid electric cars are common and becoming popular. Toyota Prius (50 mpg) and Honda Insight (40 – 43 mpg) were among first models of Hybrid cars. Ford’s Escape SUV (29 mpg), Honda Civic Compact car (42 mpg), and Chevrolet Malibu sedan (29 mpg) is among the latest models of Hybrid cars.

• The Volkswagen Jetta TDI is one of the mainstream diesel cars sold in the United States today. The environmental protection agency rates it between 30 and 40 miles per gallon.

5. Fuel

• Hybrid cars use conventional gas, which is more readily available than diesel.

• Diesel vehicles can also use biodiesel fuel, which is made from waste oils and has proved to be best as alternative non-petroleum fuel.

6. Miles per gallon

• Most hybrid sedans have 40 to 50 miles per gallon.

• Diesel sedan can have same miles/ gallon.

7. Reliability

• Reliability depends upon manufacturer and model of vehicle.

• Hybrid and Diesel vehicles are as reliable as those, which operates on unleaded gasoline alone.

8. Convenience

• Hybrid cars are available in 50 states of USA, simply because these vehicles meet the emission standard.

• Diesel vehicles, on the other hand are not sold to these five states; Vermont, Maine, New York, Massachusetts and California, because of strict emission standards.

9. Cost

• Hybrid customer will have to pay more upfront as hybrid cars can be as much as US $10,000 more expensive than non hybrid cars.

• Average price for a gallon of diesel fuel in recent years, has usually been 5 to 10 % higher than the cost of unleaded gasoline.

10. Effect on Environment

• Hybrid cars are more Environment friendly and commonly known as green cars.

• In contrast, Diesel cars are not a lot Environment friendly.