Diesel, Diesel Everywhere - April 22nd, 2008
Over the past few days I’ve had occasion to be checking out what’s headed our way in diesel vehicles. Now understand, I get it that ultra-low sulfur diesel, the standard in Europe and here in North America since 2006 is cleaner than the nasty ole stuff of my youth. I get it that the new diesel makes even better technologies for control of emissions and particulates possible. I know that starting this year we have the world’s most stringent regulations for these things where diesel is concerned. And I still don’t like it. I’m one of those curmudgeons who believe — strongly — that we need to be moving away from our dependence on fossil fuels, for a whole host of reasons that even go beyond environmental concerns. (Does the phrase “oil war” mean anything to you?)
But, having said that, be prepared for a whole host of new 2009 diesel vehicles including the:
- Audi Q7 3.0 TDI BlueTec
- BMW 335d and X5 xDrive 35D
- Corvette TDI
- Ford F-150
- Chevy Silverado
- Honda Accord
- VW Jetta TDI SportWagen
Mercedes is bringing out diesels in the M, GL, and R class and it’s reworked three of its four-cylinder engines for the C-class this fall. Ditto for GM that has a new state of the art 4.5 liter V8 Duramax turbo-diesel. Chrysler is talking light pick-ups with a new Cummins unit. Heck, Kia’s kicking around a diesel Borrego SUV for the future and it’s even possible the U.S. will get the 2009 Porsche Cayenne SUV.
Honda’s making waves with its new system that doesn’t require the addition of urea. The converter matrix has dual substrate layers that respectively store the NOx and react with it (via platinum particles) to make its own ammonia and give off nothing worse than nitrogen and water.
This is evolving technology that would appear to be here to stay — whether some of us like it or not. But hey, let’s be honest, with gasoline topping $3.50 for the national average and diesel going for $4.20 a gallon, are all those big mpg numbers really doing us any good? In the long run, I gotta land on the side of, “No.”
Posted on April 22nd, 2008 by Shorty
Filed under: alternative fuels |
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