Automakers Come Clean And Tell European Regulators There Is No Way Any Diesel Can Pass 2020 Standards

Cars are clean enough today. I say freeze the standards.

This is a major problem in Europe - where Diesel Vehicles probably make up the majority or close. I don't necessarily agree with you to freeze the standards - the auto makers clearly can do better than what they are SUPPOSED to be at today - and what they ask for represents an improvement. I agree however - that there comes a point of diminishing returns - where it is not economically feasible to make the engines pollute less.

The problem in the USA is that most/all heavy trucks are Diesel - and reducing emissions reduces torque - which the trucks need to move their big loads - and it also increases fuel consumption - which makes moving things more expensive.

THere is no green alternative to all truck transportation - so we at least need to apply common sense here - when we should consider that a common Evergreen tree give off more Hydrocarbon emissions than a car - and that it probably is not possible to force them to produce less by a law!

We've already reached the point of diminishing returns.

This is a major problem in Europe - where Diesel Vehicles probably make up the majority or close. I don't necessarily agree with you to freeze the standards - the auto makers clearly can do better than what they are SUPPOSED to be at today - and what they ask for represents an improvement. I agree however - that there comes a point of diminishing returns - where it is not economically feasible to make the engines pollute less.

The problem in the USA is that most/all heavy trucks are Diesel - and reducing emissions reduces torque - which the trucks need to move their big loads - and it also increases fuel consumption - which makes moving things more expensive.

THere is no green alternative to all truck transportation - so we at least need to apply common sense here - when we should consider that a common Evergreen tree give off more Hydrocarbon emissions than a car - and that it probably is not possible to force them to produce less by a law!

I guess there's no such thing as clean diesel then!

There is no such thing as a clean vehicle period. It is all relative. Gas, diesel, electric all have their issues. Even a horse and buggy had "environmental" issues, least we forget.

There is a good piece in 10/5/15 Wall Street Journal on VW's diesel development issues and how the executive/board turmoil over the last 10 years likely contributed to the mess they are in. As the Germans are fond of saying " A fish rots from the head".

Pretty sure I already said this... The Gubment can make all the rules they want, but whether folks can meet them and at what cost.... remains to be seen...