Why hasn't any EU automaker jumped on the hybrid technology?

[kap]

isn't the outrageous gas price an incentive? Actually, I have been waiting for a hybrid VW bug

[Gareth]

My guess is because they are heavily invested in diesels in Europe, which they can actually sell there, and maybe one day the US will realize that renewable bio-fuels is a better solution than hybrids, which I consider a band-aid to the problem. : )

[endymion]

1) Many more diesel cars
2) Many more smaller/low hp cars with much greater fuel efficiency in the city
3) Functional railway system for interregional travel

Just guessing, but that's prolly why.
That, and they're already used to expensive gas.
g=

I also wonder why no one's come up with Diesel-Electric hybrids which seem like an even better idea than either diesel or gas-electric hybrids.

[JJ]

Good thing you put the smiley...

VW has introduced a 50 state legal diesel this year. Their hybrid plans are available for anyone with Google.

Please don't forget that VW is a global company and not U.S. centric (although the new 50 state legal diesel Jetta is for the U.S.)

JJ

[kap]

I might be way out of the loop on the latest diesel fuel technology. Is it environment friendly? That is true their railway system is quite efficient. It might not work as well in So. CA, Los Angeles in particular. We'll see how the proposed railway from SF to SD will span out. CA passed a funding proposition in the recent election.

[ztirffritz]

actually VW has a Golf in Europe that gets 70+MPG. It is called the Bluewind model or something like that.

[JJ]

Biodiesel is a good synthetic fuel. I also think pure electric vehicles are a great idea too.

If I could afford a Tesla Roadster, I would buy one today.

Since I cannot afford a Tesla Roadster, I am going to buy a VW Jetta Sport Wagen TDI. Diesel is efficient and BioDiesel can be made by local producers.

JJ

[simonm]

endymion wrote:

I also wonder why no one's come up with Diesel-Electric hybrids which seem like an even better idea than either diesel or gas-electric hybrids.

Good point. From what I have read the main reason has been the lack of availability of low sulphur diesel fuel in the USA which is the main hybrid market. Diesel-Electric makes huge sense and a lot of the technology for this exists albeit in large format. Afaik a large number of diesel locomotives are in "hybrids" - the diesel just generates the power for the electric motors that drive the train.

[space-time]

"BioDiesel can be made by local producers"

but then less food on your table. sorry, but from what I have read, seems like biofuel is more like a scam, with all these subsidies and cutting down the Rainforest to make room for more land.

what sparked those riots in poor countries? expensive food. Why is food expensive? bio-fuels.

[loveshine]

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/02/...n_to_i.php