Comments on: Change of plans: Mazda to offer hybrids, EVs by 2015 http://www.leftlanenews.com/change-of-plans-mazda-to-offer-hybrids-evs-by-2015.html Car news, reviews, and specs for the auto-industry Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:56:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: maxcar http://www.leftlanenews.com/change-of-plans-mazda-to-offer-hybrids-evs-by-2015.html#comment-450861 maxcar Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:16:20 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/?p=16814#comment-450861 a diesel engine + powertrain + fuel tank prolly weighs quite a bit less than an equivalent hybrid engine + powertrain + fuel tank + battery pack. carting all that extra battery weight around + constantly running the ac to keep the batteries cool is like 2 steps forward, and about 1.5 steps back. hybrids are clever, but severely handicapped by current battery technology. perhaps capacitor based hybrids will yield better results. until then... give me a descent modern diesel and throw in some start stop technology (provided the diesel reaches optimal operating temperature) and you've got a winner. add the fact that you've got and endless supply of truly flexible renewable biofuel and you've sealed the deal. a diesel engine + powertrain + fuel tank prolly weighs quite a bit less than an equivalent hybrid engine + powertrain + fuel tank + battery pack.

carting all that extra battery weight around + constantly running the ac to keep the batteries cool is like 2 steps forward, and about 1.5 steps back. hybrids are clever, but severely handicapped by current battery technology. perhaps capacitor based hybrids will yield better results. until then…

give me a descent modern diesel and throw in some start stop technology (provided the diesel reaches optimal operating temperature) and you’ve got a winner. add the fact that you’ve got and endless supply of truly flexible renewable biofuel and you’ve sealed the deal.

]]> By: aexcorp http://www.leftlanenews.com/change-of-plans-mazda-to-offer-hybrids-evs-by-2015.html#comment-450800 aexcorp Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:24:35 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/?p=16814#comment-450800 @ Payton Byrd Despite the fact the diesel blocks have to be sturdier, it is getting possible to use lighter weight materials to build them. However, this was not done for cost reasons, but an all-aluminum engine is used in race cars like the R10 even though it's a diesel. Engine weight is pretty much the only reason why it's hard to make a diesel that's light, but don't expect it to stay so for much longer. Also, I have yet to see gas engines that match the diesel fuel economy WHILE maintaining the same level of performance, so until somebody comes up with that, diesels will have an advantage in ratio of power to consumption, which is the only important factor for people on this board, as we don't drive like grandmas. Lastly, I WANT A DIESEL HYBRID!!! That car will have tones of torque, yet will get great gas mileage in city which is the weak spot of diesels, yet it will crush a gas hybrid on the highway... Come on Mazda, DO IT !! @ Payton Byrd

Despite the fact the diesel blocks have to be sturdier, it is getting possible to use lighter weight materials to build them. However, this was not done for cost reasons, but an all-aluminum engine is used in race cars like the R10 even though it’s a diesel. Engine weight is pretty much the only reason why it’s hard to make a diesel that’s light, but don’t expect it to stay so for much longer.

Also, I have yet to see gas engines that match the diesel fuel economy WHILE maintaining the same level of performance, so until somebody comes up with that, diesels will have an advantage in ratio of power to consumption, which is the only important factor for people on this board, as we don’t drive like grandmas.

Lastly, I WANT A DIESEL HYBRID!!! That car will have tones of torque, yet will get great gas mileage in city which is the weak spot of diesels, yet it will crush a gas hybrid on the highway… Come on Mazda, DO IT !!

]]> By: Payton Byrd http://www.leftlanenews.com/change-of-plans-mazda-to-offer-hybrids-evs-by-2015.html#comment-450760 Payton Byrd Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:08:51 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/?p=16814#comment-450760 @Borat The comparisons are against current engines. When diesels match today's hybrids then you can expect the hybrids at that time to exceed the diesels by a similar gap as today. After all, if a plain diesel gets X, then a diesel hybrid would be > X. @Borat

The comparisons are against current engines. When diesels match today’s hybrids then you can expect the hybrids at that time to exceed the diesels by a similar gap as today. After all, if a plain diesel gets X, then a diesel hybrid would be > X.

]]> By: Payton Byrd http://www.leftlanenews.com/change-of-plans-mazda-to-offer-hybrids-evs-by-2015.html#comment-450759 Payton Byrd Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:07:10 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/?p=16814#comment-450759 @05Z88Path Light weight diesel is an oxymoron. @05Z88Path

Light weight diesel is an oxymoron.

]]> By: Borat http://www.leftlanenews.com/change-of-plans-mazda-to-offer-hybrids-evs-by-2015.html#comment-450726 Borat Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:45:23 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/?p=16814#comment-450726 Johnny, the idea was that new crop of gasoline engines will achieve current diesel's level of frugality, new diesels will surpass old diesels. I imagine Mazda is going direct injection in gasoline and piezo injection in new diesel model. And those new technology not only improve economy they also promised higher output from the same displacement in both horsepower and torque. Johnny, the idea was that new crop of gasoline engines will achieve current diesel’s level of frugality, new diesels will surpass old diesels. I imagine Mazda is going direct injection in gasoline and piezo injection in new diesel model. And those new technology not only improve economy they also promised higher output from the same displacement in both horsepower and torque.

]]> By: JakeK66 http://www.leftlanenews.com/change-of-plans-mazda-to-offer-hybrids-evs-by-2015.html#comment-450690 JakeK66 Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:11:26 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/?p=16814#comment-450690 Yamanouchi continued - "I got this Snake Oil that cures every major disease as well..." Yamanouchi continued -

“I got this Snake Oil that cures every major disease as well…”

]]> By: johnnycanuck http://www.leftlanenews.com/change-of-plans-mazda-to-offer-hybrids-evs-by-2015.html#comment-450687 johnnycanuck Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:57:13 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/?p=16814#comment-450687 Borat, by that reasoning if the gas engines supposedly offer the same mileage as the diesels why bother with either? Borat, by that reasoning if the gas engines supposedly offer the same mileage as the diesels why bother with either?

]]> By: Borat http://www.leftlanenews.com/change-of-plans-mazda-to-offer-hybrids-evs-by-2015.html#comment-450668 Borat Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:22:07 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/?p=16814#comment-450668 Clear as mud: if new diesel engines achieve same economy, why invest in hybrids? Clear as mud: if new diesel engines achieve same economy, why invest in hybrids?

]]> By: aexcorp http://www.leftlanenews.com/change-of-plans-mazda-to-offer-hybrids-evs-by-2015.html#comment-450667 aexcorp Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:20:33 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/?p=16814#comment-450667 That's fine, they should diversify as to not put all their eggs in the same basket. Diesel is great, but in the US it will always have a hard time penetrating due to higher than gasoline taxes on it. Having both diesel and hybrid means they're covering all the markets. At the same time, please come out with a diesel hybrid, which would hopefully deliver like 60 mpg combined, as the diesel will be efficient on the highway (more than hybrids are, which is why the Prius loses against the Jetta Bluediesel on highway tests) and have plenty of power and torque, while in the city the hybrid system will provide great mileage, that even diesels can't touch. Best of both worlds... That’s fine, they should diversify as to not put all their eggs in the same basket. Diesel is great, but in the US it will always have a hard time penetrating due to higher than gasoline taxes on it. Having both diesel and hybrid means they’re covering all the markets.

At the same time, please come out with a diesel hybrid, which would hopefully deliver like 60 mpg combined, as the diesel will be efficient on the highway (more than hybrids are, which is why the Prius loses against the Jetta Bluediesel on highway tests) and have plenty of power and torque, while in the city the hybrid system will provide great mileage, that even diesels can’t touch.

Best of both worlds…

]]> By: 05Z88Path http://www.leftlanenews.com/change-of-plans-mazda-to-offer-hybrids-evs-by-2015.html#comment-450663 05Z88Path Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:04:46 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/?p=16814#comment-450663 Don't cave into the hybrid/EV craze Mazda! Keep the focus on lightweight and fuel efficient gas/diesel cars... Don’t cave into the hybrid/EV craze Mazda! Keep the focus on lightweight and fuel efficient gas/diesel cars…

]]> By: ahnuconun http://www.leftlanenews.com/change-of-plans-mazda-to-offer-hybrids-evs-by-2015.html#comment-450654 ahnuconun Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:49:55 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/?p=16814#comment-450654 Ford FTL! Ford FTL!

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