BusinessWeek gets a shoutout from us for saying what's
gotta be said (as many of our readers have) -- Americans need to get over their perception of diesels as being stinky,
loud slowpokes already. Truly. Part of the problem is the fact that until we get cleaner UltraLow Sulfur fuel starting
in October, the stinky part may have some truth to it; however, there's something to be said for the fact that diesel
is 30-percent more efficient than gasoline and current oil burners perform near to or at the level of their gasoline
counterparts.
DaimlerChrysler is slowly climbing on board with its Jeep Liberty and Mercedes
E-class diesel models, but we're all about the day when we, like Europe, can buy almost any car as a diesel or a
gasoline model. Onwards to October!
[Source: BusinessWeek]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
J_EX @ Apr 27th 2006 5:01PM
Here here!
I bought a Ford Excursion Diesel SUV last June for hauling around my family. It's been giving me 18MPG!
Noah @ Apr 27th 2006 5:04PM
I live in Alberta Canada, land of oil and we have clean diesel here and let me tell you there is NO problem with smells. There are TONS of diesel cars and trucks around here and my only complaint is that the trucks are loud but that's because lots of the guys (and gals) who get them put on 4" pipes and other monster power adders. Even with, theres no bad smell and no black smoke just a loud ticking which isn't any worse than any other car with a too-big set of pipes.
I wish my Golf were a turbo diesel.
--Noah
rem83 @ Apr 27th 2006 5:12PM
Has anyone looked at the feasibility of using a larger displacement Atkinson cycle engine (maybe turbocharged?) seperately from a hybrid powertrain? This type of thing might be easier for most Americans to swallow than a technology that already has a bad reputation (don't get me wrong, I love diesels)
felonious monk @ Apr 27th 2006 5:15PM
I don't think people on the west and east coasts need convincing. It's middle-america that needs convincing. Unfortunately, these are the same people who got us GW. Hard to convince those who only see and hear what they want.
DieselMan @ Apr 27th 2006 5:20PM
Just came back from my short Easter vacation.
Drove 19hrs straight, no sleep, from southern Spain to north-western Germany. Beautifull scenery and nice traffic. Stoped just for gas and a chat with an old friend, in France.
Did most of France behind a Aston Martin DB9, seen a F430 near Luxemburg, a yellow 911 GT3 near Nurburgring and, as I was coming off the autobahn, a Carrera GT outbraked me to go in front...really, a nice trip.
THE CAR I've made this trip with?
BMW 320d (d from Diesel...) THE BEST cruiser over here.
Here is a picture taken from the trip computer:
http://i3.tinypic.com/wkpn9y.jpg
Alternative power @ Apr 27th 2006 5:22PM
"3. Has anyone looked at the feasibility of using a larger displacement Atkinson cycle engine (maybe turbocharged?) seperately from a hybrid powertrain? This type of thing might be easier for most Americans to swallow than a technology that already has a bad reputation (don't get me wrong, I love diesels)"
There was a news item a few months back on BMW's development of a steam engine that wraps around the exhaust system. It develops power as the engine heats up, wouldn't interfere with normal operation (it may interface with the existing cooling system, I don't recall). Combine this with diesel, regenerative braking, etc. and fun cars may get 50 mpg.
DieselMan @ Apr 27th 2006 5:22PM
Just came back from my short Easter vacation.
Drove 19hrs straight, no sleep, from southern Spain to north-western Germany. Beautifull scenery and nice traffic. Stoped just for gas and a chat with an old friend, in France.
Did most of France behind a Aston Martin DB9, seen a F430 near Luxemburg, a yellow 911 GT3 near Nurburgring and, as I was coming off the autobahn, a Carrera GT outbraked me to go in front...really, a nice trip.
THE CAR I've made this trip with?
BMW 320d (d from Diesel...) THE BEST cruiser over here.
Here is a picture taken from the trip computer:
http://i3.tinypic.com/wkpn9y.jpg
Erik Ruggels @ Apr 27th 2006 5:29PM
I've been buying VW Diesels since 2001 and I love them. Currently I own the jetta and passat. The former rarely drops below 42mpg, the later rarely below 35mpg. Both offer all the 'luxury' features i require and safetly along with fantastic mileage, leather, etc etc. Now if only, as advocated in the article, BMW, Audi, and Mercedes brought ALL their diesel powerplants over i'm sure we'd see the Europe effect where by luxury diesels exceed sales of petrols... because of the obvious mileage and power advantages (ie the A8 V8 TDI is faster then the V8 petrol).
matt @ Apr 27th 2006 5:42PM
American driving styles for the most part are conducive to diesel power, i.e., lots of torque at low revs for stop-and-go commuting and short trips. I'd love it if my Wrangler had a diesel powerplant in it.
Vexorg @ Apr 27th 2006 5:47PM
Based on what I've read, a lot of the VW TDIs can't even run on anything but low-sulfur diesel. I certainly wouldn't mind a TDI though, my dad uses one (2000 Jetta) for 60 miles of commuting daily, with close to 140k on it.
nezromatron @ Apr 27th 2006 5:50PM
I can see it now.. Morons putting the wrong fuel in their cars.. In order for this to fly here, they need to make triangular holes in the tank with triangular nozzles on the pump to keep people from hurting themselves.
Razib Ahmed @ Apr 27th 2006 5:55PM
With the rising price of oil in the international market I am sure more and more people will not mind the smell of disel. Yes, in the recent times there have been significant improves in disel driver vehicles.
"DaimlerChrysler is slowly climbing on board with its Jeep Liberty and Mercedes E-class diesel models"- Nice and DaimlerChrysler is doing very well in the Indian market too. In 2005, DaimlerChrysler sold more than 2000 cars in the Indian market. (http://www.southasiabiz.com/2006/04/daimlerchrysler_moving_in_top.html) and this year the figure is going to increase more.
Chris J @ Apr 27th 2006 5:57PM
Jeep will be expanding its' Diesel lineup to include the Grand Cherokee and Commander. The Liberty CRD (Common Rail Diesel) has outsold DCX's expectations, I hope they continue to expand their Diesel lineup.
charlie @ Apr 27th 2006 5:58PM
"Has anyone looked at the feasibility of using a larger displacement Atkinson cycle engine (maybe turbocharged?) seperately from a hybrid powertrain? This type of thing might be easier for most Americans to swallow than a technology that already has a bad reputation (don't get me wrong, I love diesels)"
The reason atkinsons are used pretty much exclusively with hybrid systems is because they produce less power relative to energy size. If all you had was an atkinson engine without a hybird system it would probably be self-defeating, the extra weight and possibly drag killing efficiency benefits. And a forced induction atkinson cycle is called a miller cycle, and subaru is working on using it (in a hybrid).
"There was a news item a few months back on BMW's development of a steam engine that wraps around the exhaust system. It develops power as the engine heats up, wouldn't interfere with normal operation (it may interface with the existing cooling system, I don't recall). Combine this with diesel, regenerative braking, etc. and fun cars may get 50 mpg."
The technology is called turbosteamer. It wouldnt be as ideal for diesel because diesel exhaust is cooler, plus pretty much all diesels already use turbochargers which uses a lot of the exhaust energy. This technology is essentially an alternative way to extract some of the otherwise lost energy that is in exhaust heat, but is highly appealing to BMW for their petrol engines because their design philosophy is highly anti-turbocharger: they see turbochargers as producing an undesirable amount of torque, which necessitates a heavier transmission, heavier brakes, heavier clutch, heavier tyres, etc.
How would regenerative braking work in a non-hybrid? would it power the air conditiong?
Look up the crower 6 speed for another interesting idea about how fuel efficiency could be improved while maintaining performance.
Grantola @ Apr 27th 2006 6:03PM
All hail the diesel engine!!
By the way, why are so many hybrids fugly??
How hard is it to convert a diesel to run on cooking oil, so I can pull up to Ronald McDonald's place and fill my car with McGrease?
Erik Ruggels @ Apr 27th 2006 6:08PM
"In order for this to fly here, they need to make triangular holes in the tank with triangular nozzles on the pump to keep people from hurting themselves."
People with big trucks and the hand full of vw/mb diesel car woners seem not to be having problems. that said, i did lend the jetta to a family member who 'forgot' and put gas in it. mmmm $650 later things were fine. Anywho, you get used to the green pump, the smell isn't bad at all and the noise is negligable if anything. That and i'd buy an A8 TDI in a heart beat if Audi brought it over, such a larger car, decent pull and over 40 mpg on the freeway or 800 miles per tank (ala top gear), score. where do i sign up. and stop teasing us with mid engine diesel sports cars and build it and bring it over already vw, just drop the 2.0L TDI into a light chasis like the eco racer, i'd gladly pay 25,000.
Michael Karesh @ Apr 27th 2006 6:10PM
I don't think consumer perceptions are the real problem. Get some out there, and perceptions would quickly change.
The real problem is that diesels cost more, until recently diesel fuel was much more expensive than unleaded, and controlling emissions requires low sulfur fuel. The last will be fixed before much longer. Diesels will happen here, especially if they get tax incentives.
Best diesel in the U.S. is the E320. My review: http://www.epinions.com/content_208751922820
I was much less impressed by the Jeep: http://www.epinions.com/content_210733469316
hitbyastick @ Apr 27th 2006 6:15PM
felonious monk-
Tru Dat. Middle America. God love 'em but they just don't see.
hitbyastick @ Apr 27th 2006 6:19PM
nezromatron-
Yup. I think perhaps the only way to avert idiot Middle Americans(remember, God love 'em and all that) is to have separate gasoline/E85 and Diesel filling stations.
Kevin W @ Apr 27th 2006 6:48PM
Lets not forget at one time diesels raced and won at the brickyard in the Indy 500.