- A plug-in hybrid vehicle is already plenty complicated with a gas engine.
- Using a diesel engine would complicate things even more, but Chery thinks it can crack the code.
- The Chery Stockman is the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid pickup truck, and it promises ultra-low fuel consumption, 62 miles of electric range, and good towing capacity.
A little over a decade ago, Volvo had the bright idea to make a diesel plug-in hybrid. On paper, everything looked great: the low fuel consumption of a diesel paired with the benefits of all-electric cruising around town. In practice, though, running a diesel engine for short bursts doesn’t do it any good, so Volvo scrapped the oil-burning PHEV after a few short years to focus on gas alternatives.