Clean Diesels Help Meet Presidental '20 in 10' Goals

Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, issued the following statement in response to President Bush's speech this afternoon discussing his energy plan:

"In January, President Bush called on Americans during his State of the Union speech to 'expand the use of clean diesel vehicles' as part of his new energy plan to cut gasoline consumption by 20 percent over the next decade. America's diesel industry is ready to respond and add to the estimated 4.8 million diesel cars, pickups and SUVs already on the road today. Numerous manufacturers, including Dodge, General Motors, Ford, BMW Group, Mercedes, Jeep, Audi, Volkswagen, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai and Mitsubishi, are planning to introduce new clean diesel vehicles in the next two to three years, as technological innovation promising slashed emissions meets consumer demand for fuel economy and high performance.

"Diesel cars, trucks and SUVs deliver superior fuel economy -- typically 20% to 40% better than a comparable gasoline vehicle -- without requiring drivers to sacrifice the power and performance Americans demand. Currently, diesel fuel is on average 26 cents cheaper per gallon than regular gasoline -- a national average of $2.79 for diesel compared to $3.05 for gasoline -- according to the Energy Information Administration. And today's diesel vehicles are clean, quiet and fun-to-drive.

"Greater use of diesel technology would help the U.S. reduce petroleum consumption, improve energy security and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that America could save up to 1.4 million barrels of oil per day -- an amount equivalent to the oil we currently import from Saudi Arabia -- if one-third of U.S. cars, pickup trucks and SUVs were diesel-powered.

"More Americans are discovering clean diesel as an alternative fuel option. Annual registration of diesel passenger vehicles has grown by 80% -- from just over 300,000 in 2000 to nearly 550,000 in 2005. And most analysts expect this trend to continue. Researchers at J.D. Power and Associates predict that diesel sales will triple in the next 10 years, growing to more than 10% of U.S. vehicles sales by 2015 up from 3.6% in 2005.

"Congress should consider extending financial incentives that encourage the purchase of new clean technologies, including new clean diesel cars, pickups and SUVs. Diesel manufacturers are also eager to continue working with the renewable diesel fuel industry to assure the highest quality standards and performance of biodiesel blends."

The Diesel Technology Forum is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the economic importance and environmental progress of diesel engines and equipment. Forum members represent the three parts of the modern clean diesel system: advanced engines, cleaner diesel fuel and effective emissions control systems.

asw0224 - 5/15/2007 10:43:13 AM

+1 Boost

Agreed... except that all of the petroleum refiners in this country are set up to focus on gasoline production. If US refineries wanted to change cracking from gasoline to diesel, it would require something like $1 billion per refinery to complete the switch, along with 4-5 years lead time. So the powertrains might be available, but the supply would take years to catch up to any boom in demand, ensuring a price disadvantage for diesel for years to come.

IamEvilHomer - 5/15/2007 11:53:53 PM

0 Boost

desiel is everwere
and all the new desiel is low sulfer

Rupert - 5/15/2007 10:46:24 AM

+4 Boost

Wow.
George said something sensible, practical and..dare I say it..intelligent.
And it seems like everyone except Toyota is going to introduce a diesel. But they do have their hybrids, but it remains to be seen whether a diesel will prove better value for money.

enthusiastx11 - 5/15/2007 11:56:53 AM

+2 Boost

even our genius president can see that diesel could have an enormous impact on fuel efficiency. finally.

does this mean that some of the die-on-their-sword hybrid fanatics in here are even dumber than george? scary.

SupraNeverBack - 5/15/2007 11:59:05 AM

0 Boost

How many times did you hear about clean diesels promised coming...? The damn thing is 100 years old and will go nowhere further.

The near future belongs to hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Don't see that, then be prepared to be choked together with diesels.

Rupert - 5/15/2007 12:06:03 PM

+3 Boost

According to your logic I suppose we should just get rid of planes, trains and all cars? Being all old and stuff.

And don't hybrid is new! Trains have been using it for like 30 years.

enthusiastx11 - 5/15/2007 9:25:26 PM

+1 Boost

the future is plug-in hybrids? please explain why.

the majority of eletricity in north america is produced by filthy coal-fired plants. please explain how this helps us out environmentally.

enthusiastx11 - 5/15/2007 9:26:34 PM

+1 Boost

and how do these hybrids wean us off long-term dependence on the middle east? and what happens when the world's oil supplies run dry in about 70 years?

kart1 - 5/15/2007 11:51:08 PM

+1 Boost

Enthusiast: how will diesels wean us off of middle east oil?

Hybrids are described as the future because car manufacturers routinely claim that it is the stepping stone between full gas cars and hydrogen.

enthusiastx11 - 5/15/2007 9:28:02 PM

+1 Boost

GS450h observed fuel economy: 20mpg
e320 bluetec observed fuel economy: 34 MPG

please explain which one is superior.

kart1 - 5/15/2007 11:39:39 PM

+1 Boost

That is not a smart comment when you are trying to prove your opinion superior. The difference is clear when you look at the performance numbers. Please do research on that topic and do not compare Lexus hybrids to diesel engines because Lexus hybrid engines are designed for performance more than good gas mileage.

IamEvilHomer - 5/15/2007 11:57:32 PM

+1 Boost

huu show me a prius that gets 60 mpg in real life

my dads TDI jetta does 48 combined and he drives in the mountians

chewy - 5/15/2007 8:18:28 PM

+1 Boost

Easiest way to achieve any reduction if fuel consumption.

kart1 - 5/15/2007 11:46:08 PM

+1 Boost

I agree, at this moment diesels are much easier to implement because Hybrids are a fairly new concept to the consumer market and diesels have been around forever. Also many manufacturers are producing diesels abroad and have good economical engines available. In the end diesel is the best option for many manufacturers right now because they can simply start selling them right now. This is good for the US because fuel consumption can be lowered as well by using diesels more widely. However, here is the big question: Will Americans change to diesel or will they stay with their previous choice of avoiding diesels altogether.