Recently, in an interview, Christian von Koenigsegg, the visionary founder of Koenigsegg sports cars, put forward a novel idea: diesel hybrid technology could stand as a viable alternative to pure electric vehicles (EVs). He elaborated that although pure EVs shine in short urban commutes, their range limitations pose a significant challenge for long-distance travel. Koenigsegg envisions a scenario where diesel hybrid models could harness battery power exclusively for roughly 95% of daily short trips, thus achieving zero emissions. Meanwhile, the diesel engine would kick in for extended journeys, effectively mitigating range anxiety.

He further highlighted that if renewable diesel is utilized, the overall carbon footprint could be slashed by 75% to 90%, rendering it even more eco-friendly than certain large-battery pure EVs. Moreover, by keeping the diesel usage ratio at approximately 5%, battery capacity could be reduced by around 30%. This reduction translates to a vehicle weight decrease of about 300kg, subsequently lowering both energy consumption and manufacturing costs.

However, diesel range-extender systems are not without their drawbacks. Issues such as elevated noise levels, pronounced vibrations, intricate exhaust treatment processes, subpar power generation efficiency, and soaring maintenance costs stand in stark contrast to the serene and seamless driving experience that electric vehicles aim to deliver. Consequently, these systems have yet to gain widespread acceptance among mainstream automakers.