I want one, Finally a hybrid that will run on BD. Pity I have to choose between my wife and my son to who will ride with me

That looks like the typical "concept car" which never makes it to the real world. It appears to be a 2 person city car which will have limited usefulness.

Now if you want a "real" diesel hybrid which is already past the concept stage and will do a "real" job of work, then you will have to wait till around 2010 when Peugeot releases their 307 (308?) diesel hybrid. It should deliver around 4L/100km.
Peugeot 307 Hybrid HDi - hybrid cars - TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk blog

Press release documentation http://www.psa-peugeot-citroen.com/d...1138701208.pdf

If you read the article it actually says the VW will be in production by 2010. Hardly just a concept car.

__________________
Sean

If you had read the SMH article you would have noticed the terms "reportedly" and "planning to" and "limited production run".

A limited production run would be kept in-house for evaluation and not for general sale - just in case they scrap the idea.

Now, have a look at this article Revealed: Volkswagen's 69.9-MPG Diesel Hybrid | Autopia from Wired.com

VW themselves are describing this vehicle as a "concept car" yet it has more potential for development and large scale production than the little 2 seater in the SMH article. My point is that if the more conventional and useful Golf diesel hybrid is still considered by VW as a "concept car", what does this make the "toy" car in the SMH article?

The i30 turbo diesel already delivers 4.7 ltr / 100 (for the manual model)

Thats why I bought one

I couldn't agree more. My i30 loves BD and in real world use on BD I am getting about 5.5L/100km.

No doubt about it, the I30 is a nice looking and economical to drive car.

Actually, I was being a little conservative with my "4L/100km" statement. The Peugeot design figure quoted is actually 3.4L/100km, and that vehicle is a bit heavier than an I30 I suspect.

The problem with hybrids is the batteries, they are not environmentally friendly to manufacture, will only last for 4-5 years and are also not very friendly to the environment to dispose of.

All in all not a good solution and not cost effective, at the moment.

__________________
Maverick
Canberra

I agree.. once they find a better way to dispose they batteries then i will think about getting one.

__________________
Porn Movies | Girlfriend Pics | Sex Comics

You are correct - at least in part.

I doubt that the manufacturing process is the environmental hazard you say it is. Rather, it is the disposal process at the end of battery life which has the potential to be environmentally hazardous.

At the moment the only batteries which are recycled locally are lead-acid batteries. All other batteries are shipped overseas for recycling. I read a report that an Australian company was planning on setting up a local recycling plant for domestic alkaline batteries but I don't know if this eventuated. At the moment there is no mandated requirement for recycling ANY battery types in Australia - it only occurs as a result of a concious effort from users.

With the take-up of hybrid vehicles it would be a requirement that expired batteries be recovered for recycling. In fact, I think battery replacement for vehicles would only be carried out by licensed agents or repairers, thus ensuring that batteries are recycled in the same way as motor oil.