Technically, here at Gasoline-ElectricCars.com, we cover hybrids that are what our website title says: gasoline electrics.  A newly-emerging trend, however, is diesel-electrics with the world’s first in a passenger car coming to market this year, in Europe, from Peugeot.  The 3008 Hybrid4.

The car is beginning European roll out now.  The car is a diesel-electric hybrid offering 74mpg as a plug-in hybrid and emitting only 99g/km of CO2, which qualifies it for the highest EU ratings compared to other hybrids or standard internal combustion cars of all types.

The Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 has four driving modes:

1. Automatic
2. All-electric (0 Emissions)
3. Sport
4. 4WD

In automatic mode, the car chooses the best mode of operation according to its current use, switching between full electric and hybrid as required while attempting to optimize fuel consumption.

In all-electric mode, the car uses only its battery and electric power for short distances at low speeds (under 20km/h and for about 8km or so).

In sport and 4WD mode, it worries less about consumption and more about power and performance, putting out strong sporty performance or all wheel drive output for traction and stability when the roads go bad.

The hatchback/wagon will not likely come to North America, but other European automakers who sell diesel vehicles here, such as Volkswagen / Audi, will be taking note of the success of this diesel-electric hybrid and may decide that it would do well here as well.