[USMA:41224] [Off topic?] Hybrid efficiency

[Harry Wyeth]

I can't resist weighing (pun?) in on this issue.  We average 50 mpg/?L 
per 100 km in our Prius.  Last tank was 55.  I would think that it would 
have to be a really tiny diesel to match that.  Last time I was in 
Europe, two years ago, several folks told me that the small diesel 
engines being installed in VW and some other vehicles were flimsy and 
fell apart after 100,000 km.  On the other hand, we drove a Volvo diesel 
medium-sized station wagon, equal to the V-70, and it obtained 42 mpg 
(sorry, but the conversion to L/100 km is complex).

I think that in California diesel autos will be allowed by next year 
(there are some old ones around; I am referring to new ones under the 
latest standards).  But they will have to be very clean to meet our 
standards.

HARRY WYETH