To Top It Off

Umbra compares diesel and standard gasoline cars

Posted by Bricolage at 12:01 PM on 02 Nov 2005

Diesel vehicles can get many more miles to the gallon than their regular ol' counterparts, so do they really deserve their dirty rep? A reader in the market for a used car wonders. After all, Europeans loooove diesels, so how bad can they be? Advice maven Umbra Fisk weighs in on the debate, giving tanks where tanks is due.

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biodiesel

I don't think this answer gives enough cred to the idea of making one's own biodiesel - people have been doing it since before there were filling stations offering it, you could at least give a link telling the person how, in case they're interested. (here's one: http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html )

by cicatrix at 12:16 AM on 03 Nov 2005

Diesel Technology

While I agree that use of biodiesel fuel is the preferred option for limiting harmful emissions from diesel engines, it is important to note that the federal government is requiring all diesel producers to provide low-sulfur diesel fuel starting in 2007. This improved fuel will significantly reduce harmful emissions and will help facilitate the use of improved emission control technologies (many of which are not compatible with the current high-sulfur diesel). Automakers will begin offering diesel vehicles in the 2007 model year that will include these improved emission control systems.

It is also important to point out that increasing consumer demand for diesel vehicles could have a number of positive impacts. For instance, increased demand could induce automakers to increase their funding for research and development of advanced diesel technology. Likewise, increased demand for diesel vehicles could help increase the availability of biodiesel fuel.

Claudette Juska
Auto Project Coordinator
Ecology Center

by claudettej at 1:33 PM on 07 Nov 2005

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