Honda Accord Diesel to replace hybrid in USA

[Spule 4]

For those like myself that wondered what would happen to Hybrids when US diesel emissions could be met:

http://news.windingroad.com/alternat...accord-hybrid/

[rh77]

YES!

If this will indeed occur, this is a HUGE step in the right direction. I hope it breaks the bad Diesel perception that the U.S. has. If Toyota follows suit with its Isuzu-based Diesels (including the rumored hybrid), then count me in!

The 2009 4-cyl Diesel (hopefully manual) Accord might prompt me to investigate a purchase. If they team it up with a hybrid drivetrain, then we're actually getting somewhere. Honestly, 2009 had BETTER bring some hi FE, low emission drivetrains in North America.

RH77

[The Toecutter]

They should make it a diesel-hybrid, really. Preferably of the plug-in variety.

[Spule 4]

Originally Posted by The Toecutter

They should make it a diesel-hybrid, really. .

What, GM has been making one since the 1940s....

[rh77]

The 2 major players in the locomotive industry are General Electric and "EMD" (the Electro-Motive Division of noneother than General Motors). 95%+ of trains you see today use basic hybrid tech: a huge diesel engine, a generator, and DC (or more recently AC) traction motors.

RH77

Originally Posted by Spule 4

What, GM has been making one since the 1940s....

[The Toecutter]

The 2 major players in the locomotive industry are General Electric and "EMD" (the Electro-Motive Division of noneother than General Motors). 95%+ of trains you see today use basic hybrid tech: a huge diesel engine, a generator, and DC (or more recently AC) traction motors.

Indeed. GM still claims the technology isn't ready. Ferdinand Porsche did it in the 1920s...

[Sludgy]

Originally Posted by Spule 4

What, GM has been making one since the 1940s....

Well, not quite since the 1940's....... Diesel electric locomotives don't store energy like a hybrid does. There were no traction batteries in old diesel electric locomotives.

Railroad regenerative braking has been around a long time on electric trains that fed power back to the power grid when braking.

[rh77]

Originally Posted by Sludgy

Well, not quite since the 1940's....... Diesel electric locomotives don't store energy like a hybrid does. There were no traction batteries in old diesel electric locomotives.

Railroad regenerative braking has been around a long time on electric trains that fed power back to the power grid when braking.

True -- the batteries again seem to be a crucial component as "Dynamic Braking" turns the traction motors into generators. The energy in "Dynamic" mode is fed into huge resistors and wasted into spent heat in the Diesel-Electric variety.

Electric trains like the Amtrak Acela in the Northeast Corridor take nearly all initial braking action and feed it back into the power grid (it still needs air brakes at each cars wheels to slow it down -- especially at speeds greater than 100 mph)

RH77