coool! hybrid that allows you to control the gears, I like the control!

Not likely. PSA says it may have the hybrids on the market in 2010. Whether PSA resumes sales in the US is another question.

-Roger Pham- Diesel prices in europe are not anymore half
of gasoline prices, for example one liter of diesel in germany costs average 1.43$ versus one liter of regular gas 1.67$. Prices are average from today.

Fuel is taxed in Europe. The Governments determine the tax levels and thus the relative levels of each fuel used therefore the governments are in control. Which is what's supposed to happen....

Citroen PSA has proven that diesel hybrids are technically possible and do offer additional savings over and above regular diesels. It will be interesting to see if PSA will succeed in bringing down the price of sensible mild hybrid architectures such as this one by 2010.

Back-of-the-envelope calculation:
Hybrid 306cc HDi: 70MPG US = 3.4 l/100km
Regular 306cc HDi: 70*0.70 = 49 MPG = 4.8 l/100km
Distance: 20,000 km/year
Savings: 1.4 l/100km=~EUR 1.5 /100km (*)=EUR 300/year
ROI horizon: 8 years (**)
Acceptable premium at initial purchase: ~EUR 2400

The effect of inflation is ignored here. It is possible that oil prices will go up further. It is also possible that hybrids (as built by PSA) will entail higher maintenance cost than non-hybrids. Then again, customers may be willing to pay a premium for being seen to do their bit for global warming etc. All in all, the EUR 2400 is just a rough estimate.

"Today, the price gap between a Hybride HDi model and a comparable diesel HDi model is still too wide and would have to be halved to make diesel hybrid vehicles accessible to most consumers."
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/01/psa_peugeot_cit.html

"The team estimates that the current additional cost for the hybrid powertrain would be approximately £3,000 ($US5,600) over the cost of a conventional diesel vehicle."
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/06/ricardo_qinetiq.html

Note that no vehicle manufacturer will ever disclose the cost of manufacturing. The $5600 (~EUR 4500) above refers to the price premium seen by the customer, roughly 2x the EUR 2400 computed above.

(*) The UK is one of a few European countries that does not have a powerful agricultural or haulage industry lobby. This is why its taxes on diesel are relatively higher. A truly technology-neutral fuel tax policy would be based either on energy content per unit of volume or, CO2 produced by unit of volume. Either way, diesel would end up more expensive than gasoline, making all types of hybrids far more attractive.

(**) This assumes hybrid variant will depreciate at the same rate as the base model and, that hybrid customers are prepared to accept a distant ROI horizon.

Ash -

they are using a robotized single-clutch manual transmission here, to save on cost. While it would be possible to set the vehicle in motion using just the electric motor and get the engine above its idling speed by closing the clutch, passengers would notice an acceptable lurch as it did so. Better to start the engine while disconnected as usual.

Having the main electric motor on the transmission side of the clutch significantly improves recuperation efficiency because the engine can be turned off.

Ash -

you're right, shifting into neutral would allow the electric motor to be connected to the engine without powering the wheels. I'm not sure why they chose not to eliminate the belt starter-alternator system. Perhaps it's just cheaper to keep the 12V and 288V electrical grids completely separate. Perhaps it's just that your proposed procedure of engaging the clutch, revving up the engine, disengaging, shifting into 1st or reverse and then re-engaging before you can get going just takes too long. Or, the clutch might not last long enough.

Roger,

The price of diesel is not artificially lower than that of gasoline, just look up the refinig process, diesel is easier to manufacture than gasoline (takes less energy to manufacture it from crude). What determines the end cost in the end is more of a question of political will though. Also, having diesel cars makes sense just from the point of view of thermodynamical efficiency, and it is not a surprise that this diesel hybrid beats all gasonline hybrids(like Prius) at 70 mpg. Prius might be a fuel saver in the US, but regular european diesel cars can beat the Prius in fuel economy. However most european brands that are imported only carry the bigger and/or petrol engines and bigger cars to the US market. As long as the perception that 'bigger is better' is not changed, and as long as americans form their opinion on diesel cars based on old diesel truck engines, the US will miss an opportunity to drastically reduce fuel consumption just by employing ordinary, well-tested technology. In US car ads, 30 mpg is being touted as excellent fuel economy, but in Europe it would be considered dismal (my 30 year old Renault derivative on regular gasoline can best that). Also, with current US driving habits and most people driving under 100 mph nobody really needs big and powerful engines. A turbo does it for the very few situations when one really needs more power (like going uphill) and that's all.