University of Wisconsin creates first diesel-hybrid SUV

Madison (WI) - Americans are in love with their SUVs and even gas prices topping $3 per gallon aren't convincing enough for many to consider more fuel efficient cars. And probably they don't have to, if a research project at the University of Wisconsin-Madison makes its way into mass-production.

Roland Piquepaille has picked up in his Technology Trends blog a press release about a Chevrolet Equinox small SUV that has been modified as part of the Challenge X, which interestingly has been sponsored by Chevrolet - a company that is not really known to build the most fuel efficient cars around. What is special about this Equinox is that it is a hybrid vehicle, which combines an electrical engine to power the rear wheels and a diesel engine powering the front wheels. story continued