Volkswagen Moving Towards Zero Fossil-Fuel Future

Volkswagen has revealed a host of future environmentally friendly cars this week.

The German company says it is committed to research that should lead to mass production of cleaner, greener vehicles. Currently, it is working on hybrid and fuel-cell technology, and gas- and biofuel-powered cars.

In a document called 'Driving the Future, Volkswagen Engines - Today, Tomorrow and Beyond' the company said: 'There is one goal: independence from fossil-based resources.'

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cynic - 12/14/2006 1:35:04 PM

0 Boost

Looks like VW is following in the footsteps of Honda. Good for them.

audiot - 12/14/2006 2:41:22 PM

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Lead the way VW!

Autoegr525 - 12/14/2006 3:02:44 PM

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...and switch to fuels that only require fossil fuels to refine....sweet!

DieselRules - 12/15/2006 10:38:51 PM

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They have hydrogen cars.

And BTW: Honda and GM don't have hydrogen technology. They get fuel-cells from a company with hydrogen technology (such as Ballard Power, the world's leader) and they build an electric vehicle with the fuel cell as the source of electricity.

As for innovation, the Austin Mini made a big leap over the front-drive cars from Renault (they started making FWD cars about 100 years ago), but the VW Golf (now over 30 years old, and you can still swap engines between the oldest and newest) defined the mechanical layout for almost ALL compact & mid-size cars to follow.

So, how long before Honda copies the VW/Audi DSG transmission? (which grew out of rally racing in the 1980s)
Everyone has copied the TipTronic (poorly), and most have tried copying Quattro.... although I haven't seen too many AWD Accords around yet.

AmazingBimmer - 12/14/2006 11:56:33 PM

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and we care.. why?

MunichRob - 12/15/2006 1:37:59 AM

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If the letters read BMW instead of VW, then you'd care right 'AmazingBimmer'?

DieselRules - 12/15/2006 10:58:56 PM

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AmazingBimmer: You will care when gas is over $10- a gallon, but you can't buy it because the gas stations are out and won't have any more till next Thursday.
If your city can take your garbage and create fuel out of it that sells for $1 or $2 a gallon, you might consider changing to a BIO-powered car. And by then, BMW (and everyone else) will have something for you that fits the bill.

Its just that VW is helping lay the ground-work for that to happen. Being the world's leader in Diesel technology is a temporary title, and they have to keep working to keep it.

AmazingBimmer - 12/16/2006 11:27:41 AM

+1 Boost

hydrogen power is the way of the future. Not Deisel. or bybrid technology. and as usual, BMW is paving the way. VW is not the leader in desiel technology. MB is!

DieselRules - 12/16/2006 2:36:39 PM

+1 Boost

MB is the leader in LARGE diesel engines (think ships, class-7 trucks that are too big to be legal on US or Canadian roads, or generating electricity for an entire town).
But VW is the leader in SMALL diesel engines, and makes roughly as many as all other car-makers combined.

NOTE: Volvo also makes BIG Diesel engines, popular in Semis and boats, but they buy VW diesels for their cars.