Four years ago hybrid powered vehicles would rarely be seen in roads and freeways. But as more people noticed and realized the great advantages this eco-friendly cars, trucks and suvs offer, and the savings they get, more and more hybrid powered vehicles are now plying our roads. So much so that gas/electric cars are now as mainstream as the typical engine vehicles that we got used to. But, it wouldn’t be a surprise if new developments and innovations come out to further develop the existing hybrid technology or to provide new technologies.

Many stories and rumors has circulated in the motor world of different discoveries and concepts that can further revolutionize the hybrid technology in motor cars and trucks, but many questions have also arisen on why some certain pre-existing technology have not been incorporated with the hybrid innovation. This includes the diesel hybrid concept.

Diesel engines have been vastly popular in Europe and Asia. While North America have not embraced the diesel power plant as much as their overseas neighbors, developments have been made in the u.s. to eliminate the characteristics which have made it a poor choice here. Recent developments have eliminated the excessive smoke generated and the loud rattling noises of the engines. Additionally, biodiesel fuel has had a growing following and is seen as a solution to save the depletion of natural resources like oil. Combining hybrid technology and the new biodiesel fuel seems to be a better solution to our growing problems. Biodiesel is now cleaner and is also more cost effective than regular gas.

While there have been no serious research and development done on diesel gas/electric cars just yet, Ford has released a diesel hybrid concept car at the North Auto American Auto show in Detroit last January 10, 2006. Ford dubbed it as the Reflex sportscar. This is a automobile that is infused with a power source that uses a combination of a diesel motor, an electric motor and solar panels. Also, the Ford Reflex is all wheel drive vehicle that Ford claims gets 65 miles to a gallon.

The Reflex, which could be the basis for future diesel hybrid powered vehicles operates much the same way as gasoline/electric hybrids. It also has a hybrid battery pack to provide backup performance to the car that gets recharged by the power plant and the heat generated by braking. The diesel Gas/electric vehicle by Ford uses lithium-ion batteries, the same kind used by the latest gadgets today, like cellular phones and portable computers. Most hybrid vehicles use nickel-metal hydrite batteries because they are far more less costly, but lithium-ion batteries have far more performance capacity.

But the Reflex also extracts power from solar cells located inside the headlamps and taillamps. This is a technology patented by Ford. There are also solar cells placed in the roof of the automobile that provides performance to fans that operates inside the vehicle to cool the interior when it is parked under the hot sun.

We can only wait until hybrid diesel auto technology is more available. Until then, we can wait until diesel fuel can provide the same performance as gas fuel. But when the technology is refined, we can all be certain that diesel hybrid cars will surely catch on and we will be seeing it more often.