Peugeot & Citroen Develop Diesel-Electric Hybrid System
In terms of green, fuel-efficient automobiles, there are three schools of thought: gasoline-electric hybrids, modern direct-injection diesel and hydrogen (either fuel cell or internal combustion). Though it’s nearly impossible to get a hold on any sort of hydrogen-powered automobile currently due to their high cost, extremely limited production and nearly non-existent refueling infrastructure, the other two are easy to access. Hybrid vehicles are sought after for their ability to provide zero emissions when running on pure electricity and improved fuel economy on the road, while diesels are chosen for their general thriftiness and plentiful torque; but what about the two together?
Following in the footsteps of Volkswagen’s diesel-electric Mk.IV Golf test bed vehicle, which the German automaker unveiled at last year’s Michelin Bibendum clean-energy challenge, France’s largest automaker has decided to have a go at playing with electricity. With over seven million of its world-famous HDi diesel engines under its belt, PSA-Peugeot-Citroën is considered the foremost authority on diesel technology, and has jumped onto the hybrid scene with two demonstrator vehicles powered by their new Hybride diesel-electric hybrid system, which they will be showing for the first time at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.
Like the VW Golf, the Honda Accord or the Ford Escape hybrids, the very French-sounding Hybride system has been integrated into vehicles currently in production; each brand will show its own version starting with the futuristic-looking Citroën C4 Hybride and the Peugeot 307 Hybride, both of which compete in the mainstream family-sized hatchback (Golf, Caliber, Civic etc.). Bar the vivid green Hybride vinyl sticker livery that each concept wears, both the C4 and 307 are plain, stock production vehicles that do not differ from their mass-produced counterparts. Not much is different on the inside either, but for the console-mounted LCD display which shows the car’s power flow, as with the Escape or Prius.
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I was looking for diesel-electric hybrids after thinking that the technologies would be a great combination. I am an American and have only found European cars that are diesel-electric hybrids, and most are only concept cars. Hopefully these are coming very soon and will hit america but I fear I’ll have to have one shipped. I would be running it on home-brewed biodiesel using used vegetable oil and am curious to see if fitting a solar panel on a bike rack with a plug-in electric hybrid conversion would be possible. I am very, very excited to see these diesel-electric hybrids on the market!