Difference between Diesel and Petrol Vehicles/Engines

->Petrol Engines fire with the help of a spark plug (produces a spark to ignite petrol) while Diesel engines do not need a spark plug to ignite. Diesel engines have a self ignition property. As the air compresses inside, the diesel which is injected gets burnt due to the high compression and temperature. So the next time you see a spark plug ad from MICO, remember that these are only used for petrol engines.

->Petrol Engines are less fuel efficient than Diesel Engines as a matter of fact. Although we find that a Maruti 800 has a very high fuel efficiency of around 17-20kmpl,in reality Diesel produces more energy per given unit of fuel .This means Diesel engines are more efficient than petrol Engines for a given power rating. That’s one reason why Diesel is the most common fuel used for higher rated engines, such as trucks and buses. Diesel‘s thermal efficiency makes it better suited for heavier vehicles than petrol.

-> Another important point of difference between the Diesel and petrol Engines is their reaction to the accelerator pedal. While modern petrol engines usually inject fuel proportional to the accelerator pedal. That means, the more you accelerate, the throttle directly releases more percentage of petrol and air to burn for the power. While in Modern Diesel engine, the accelerator pedal and other pressure conditions are also taken into picture to release the diesel for burning. This is one main reason why we see that petrol cars virtually listen to your accelerator demand , while Diesel cars (without a turbo) do have a slight lag. However, with the improved Common rail diesel Engine and turbo chargers, Diesel cars are almost neck to neck with the petrol cars.

-> Diesel cars have a higher torque (turning power) when compared to petrol cars. So when you are driving uphill on a lower gear, you might be surprised that a Diesel car will take lesser effort to drive up because of the Diesel’s higher thermal efficiency and higher generation of torque. That’s another reason why heavy vehicles tend towards Diesel engines because they need higher torque to even get the vehicle moving.

While it is a personal choice to buy a petrol or a diesel car, one needs to remember that Diesel engines are also built to last longer.

Facts about Hybrid Cars, Why Hybrid Cars

The rising oil prices will have anybody fretting and praying for a miracle so that they did not have to spend that kind of money on fuel. If at all, anybody can answer those prayers, it is our own automobile industry. The only viable solution to this impending crisis could be in the form of manufacturing more fuel efficient Hybrid Cars. Many automobile manufacturers have taken an initiative by launching fuel-efficient hybrid cars that are environment friendly as well.

Hybrid would clearly mean a combination of two technologies, using best features of the two to deliver momentum directly or indirectly. Hybrid technology has existed for a long time in the form of mopeds that unite the energy of a gasoline engine and the pedal power; locomotives that are diesel-electric hybrids; mining trucks and diesel-electric buses in Seattle and other cities which run alternately on diesel and electricity; Submarines which are nuclear-electric combination and a lot more. The latest offering in the hybrid technology is the hybrid car that is combination of gasoline engine with electric motors.

The normal gasoline car runs on gasoline engines that run the car. These car gives us speed, easy refuel facility and long running between the refills. However, did anybody think about the harm these cars causes to our environment and to our wallets? The electric car can be an answer to those concerns. In an electric car, batteries supply electricity to an electric motor, which in turn runs the car. However, the electric cars have some limitations. They do not offer speed as the normal gasoline cars and these cars are not good for long drives because they would require recharging after 80-100 miles.

The hybrid car is a combination of the advantages of the two and takes care of their limitations. All hybrid cars contain a gasoline engine, an electric engine, a generator (mostly on series hybrids), fuel storage container, batteries and a transmission. It covers up the limitations of speed of an electric car while using its fuel efficiency and quality of discharge of less harmful substances.

All the major automobile companies are offering hybrid cars. This clearly indicates its future. Major examples are; Silverado Pick-up and Sierra Pick-up from GM, SUV mini-Escape car from Ford; Malibu, Yukon and Tahoe also from GM; Saturn Vue or Chevy Equinox and several models from Honda. French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen has two diesel-electric hybrid cars in the making.

Hybrid is not a fashion statement or a trail product. With so many makers jumping into the market, we are coming across never-before models in Hybrid cars. Latest statistics indicate a steep rise in sale as well as demand for of these cars. So, are you still thinking?