[ExI] Fuel efficient car for anywhere but America

[Adrian Tymes]

On Apr 11, 2011 7:55 PM, "spike" <spike66 at att.net> wrote:
> Actually it depends on how the question is stated.  A Diesel engine
converts more energy to useful work from a gallon of Diesel fuel than a
gasoline engine converts from a gallon of octane, assuming the Diesel is
loaded optimally.  Octane burning engines are actually more efficient than
Diesel when very lightly loaded.  This is what has me thinking small
turbo-Diesel engines spinning generators at constant speed and load to hold
them in their most efficient rev band.

Isn't that the basic principle behind many hybrids?

Use the electric motor for fractional power needs, and run the gas engine at
one or a few optimized revs to provide drive power and/or recharge the
batteries.
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