Ever increasing global costs for fuel and stricter Govt. regulations on emissions have lead Car manufacturers to look at various means of getting their cars to attain better MPG values and lower emissions. The most common has been a combination (hybrid) of different engines (electric and mechanical engines). The most popular hybrid is the Toyota Prius. The prius now in its 3rd generation was originally released in 1997. The prius uses a 1.5L (76Hp) engine in conjunction with a 67Hp electric motor, inco-orporating a start stop system and running only on electric when light footed with the gas pedal. Thus ensuring the gas engine remains turned off and consuming no fuel. When more power is needed, the 1.5L petrol engine comes on seamlessly without the driver ever being aware.
Diesel as a fuel is less volatile than petrol, therefore it burns slower. Previous diesel engines were coarse, harsh and un-refined. However, recent advances in technology led to more powerful, refined and very economical diesel engines. Chief amongst this is the common rail injection perfected by Mercedes Benz.
The Prius, the definition for “hybrids” achieves 50MPG. (That’s an incredible 4.6L per100KM). Even more astonishing, is Volkswagen Polo Blue motion concept (diesel) achieves a mind boggling 71.3MPG (an insane 3.3L per 100KM). Mile for mile these vehicles are closely matched. The diesels however have an advantage in being less complex than a hybrid and often always have more torque (torque is what you need when overtaking).
Another advantage with modern diesels is that they release less C02 into the atmosphere, so if you were in the UK where you pay vehicle tax, not on the size or age of your vehicle (like Nigeria) but on the amount of harmful materials your vehicle lets in the atmosphere. The Polo Blue motion emits just 87g/Km of C02. The Prius emits 89g/KM of C02.
Another point worth mentioning is, Hybrids are more expensive than non hybrid cars (a Civic hybrid will cost more than a regular Civic), and so to make sense out of buying a hybrid, you’d probably have to drive for many years before covering up the difference.
From the foregoing, we now know diesels attain better MPG values, and release less pollutants into the atmosphere, with the threat of perol going up to 93 naira in a few weeks, getting a diesel should be a no brainer?
Personally I’d recommend a diesel. Audi produced 3 straight wins in Le-Mans with a diesel burner.They’re less complex, cheaper and would not be in threat of breaking down every time in Nigeria (imagine driving a Prius and you live in Lekki, you’d probably get electrocuted 1 day when it rains very heavily).
As we look forward to finding a trully ''eco'' vehicle, you'd do well to look in the direction of the diesel engine!!!!!!!!
