Electric Vehicle: Citroen C1:
“Green” Diesel: VW Golf BlueMotion:
Hybrid: Toyota Prius 2010:
“Fill it up please”: Power, Diesel or Petrol.
I have had the opportunity to test these cars in 3 weeks. Not only are the car very different, but the technology are also very different.
The C1 EV is a fantastic city car that can also be used on road outside that city, but has a max speed of about 90 km/h. The range is up to 100 km and it needs about 7 hours of charge. Amazing to drive around in the city with no sound or pollution!
VW Golf is the 6´th edition and I was surprised that VW managed to make it quite a lot better than the 5´th edition. The interior is smarter and are now appealing to a younger public. HELLO VW is iPhone/iPot not know in Germany? The car does not have any possibility to play your own music via AUX or USB – that’s unbelievable. Driving on motorway at 110 km/h is very quiet – it is the ultimate long distance machine!
The 2010 Prius has a lot smarter interior and is well equipped. Nice that it can run in EV mode for a few km. I took it for a weekend drive with the family and did more than 800 km in it. A bit annoying sound when accelerating on the motorway.
I tested the Golf and Prius on same 3 distances to compare the consumption. The big surprise was that Golf did a little better in the city and the Prius a little better on the country roads. The Golf looked more sensible to cold starts than the Prius.
EasyEcar
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What is the winning technology?
I must say that the hybrids are under a lot of pressure, because the “Green” diesels are having about the same consumption and are a lot cheaper and simpler. I look forward to test the Prius with diesel engine later this year!!! The hybrids must work towards Plug-in Hybrids to stay competitive.
The electric vehicles are very different with the possibility to run on renewable energy. I used the car for more than 200 km in one weekend and was surprised how easy I got rid of the “Range panic” issue. So I have high expectations on development of electric cars if they get affordable soon.
So my conclusion is that any kind of electrification of cars is under a lot of pressure from the “Green” Diesels.
I must admit that I am not too deep into Biodiesel to comment on that.
Yes Europe is ahead on the “Green” Diesel and I was surprised that the GOLF preformed about as well as the Prius. The Golf is much cheaper that the Prius and in Denmark the Diesel is 15-20 % cheaper than Petrol.
Jeff: YES I am very interested in trying a solar powered car. Where can I try it?
The article have just been published on High Gear Media: http://www.eurocarreviews.com/blog/1043642_3-technologies-in-3-weeks-electric-diesel-and-hybrid
To Johan:
I think MMT meant “green” in the sense of being having reduced CO2 emissions, but you also might want to take a deeper look at biodiesel before you paint it all with the same brush. Not all biodiesel sources displace foodstocks or forests and renewable diesel (from companies like Neste Oil of Finland) use a variety of feedstocks and produce petrodiesel-quality fuel. See http://www.nesteoil.com/default.asp?path=1,41,11991,12243. Finally, research is moving forward quickly on biodiesel sources such as algae. See http://www.oilgae.com/.
Hey Martin,
Would you like to try Solar car, with high efficiency solar panel on it?
-Jeff
Great piece that puts the technologies in perspective and shows their functionality. Those of you in Europe (I’m in the US) are way ahead of us in realizing how great clean and green diesels can be.
Is the “green diesel” diesel extracted from plant oils?
If so: Stop it because millions of acres of forests will be destroyed !
Biodiesel is killing the earth and the biodiversity with gobal warming !
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