Will New, Cleaner Diesel Cars Fuel Comeback in U.S.?By Greg SchneiderWashington Post Staff WriterSunday, February 22, 2004; Page A01Joe Gibbs is back coaching the Redskins, '70s TV shows return asbig-budget movies and now the auto industry is pushing a technologythat's been around the block a few times:Diesel.The last time most Americans gave diesel a try, it was smoky and loudand had no acceleration. Diesel was an 18-wheeler clattering up ahill, a 1979 Cadillac with black exhaust stains on the back. U.S.carmakers eventually quit offering diesel engines except in thebiggest pickup trucks.Now several companies are bringing them back, hoping to do for dieselpower what the Atkins diet has done for red meat -- turn publicperception on its head. They are pitching diesel as not only good fordrivers, but good for the planet."This is really a conservation technology," said Allen Schaeffer,director of the Diesel Technology Forum, an alliance of automakers,engine companies and fuel suppliers.Because of advances in electronics, diesel vehicles now do a farbetter job of controlling how fuel burns in the engine, eliminatingmuch of the smoke and noise of 20 years ago. That allows some ofdiesel's good qualities to shine: It gets 20 to 40 percent better fueleconomy than gasoline power. Diesel engines tend to be far moredurable than gasoline engines, routinely lasting for many hundreds ofthousands of miles. A diesel has tremendous low-end power, which isgood for hauling boats or jumping off the line at a stoplight.What's more, the federal government has mandated that low-sulfurdiesel fuel be available in the United States by 2006, which expertssay will help diesel engines meet strict air pollution guidelines thatgo into effect in 2007."Historically, agencies concerned about the environment have not beenbig fans of diesel, but the new technology that's emerged in the lastfew years has actually made us big supporters," said Jeffrey R.Holmstead, Environmental Protection Agency...

than 40 percent of all new vehicles are diesel-powered

Will New, Cleaner Diesel Cars Fuel Comeback in U.S.?

Feb 22, 2004 47 Replies

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raymund hofmann 22 years ago

"greek_philosophizer" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@posting.google.com...

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washingtonpost.com>

What about Tolerable Daily Intoxication (TDI), or as I call it here in Germany: Tod Durch Intoxikation ?

Or what about Collective Diesel Intoxication (CDI) ?

You should drive with a convertible here in germany behind a few TDI's/CDI's.

Or you may join my program here in Germany for Diesel exhaust reduction, called by me: "Programm zur Dieselabgasrückführung". The diesel Exhaust is refeeded into the driver cabin and thus the collective toxicity of the diesel exhaust is very effectively reduced.

Raymund Hofmann

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greek_philosophizer 22 years ago

So the lack of malodorousness claimed for the new diesels is a fiction?

I was hoping that was not true. The Sprinter looks like it would make a good beach van.

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Stan de SD 22 years ago

I'm all for drilling in Alaska - plenty of oil there.

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Stan de SD 22 years ago

Since when is pointing out facts "whining", especially when many left-wingers openly advocate raising fuel taxes in the US to bring our prices more in-line with Europe? Sorry you can't deal with reality...

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Chas Hurst 22 years ago

Well, you're on the ball. I made my post on the 24th. So much for your reality.

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Stan de SD 22 years ago

I work for a living, so I don't spend all my time hanging out in Usenet. Once again, can you address the question I asked? Didn't think so.

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Chas Hurst 22 years ago

What was your question?

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Stan de SD 22 years ago

Lay off the drugs before you post, dude. :O|

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