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FAQs
Why is diesel power so widely used?
No other form of energy comes close to the power, versatility, cost-effectiveness and range of clean diesel applications. As a result, diesel is the predominate source of power used in trucking, railroads, shipping, agriculture, public transportation, mining, and homeland security and defense. The diesel industry is working closely with regulators to address the environmental progress and potential of diesel technology. Already, diesel systems today are significantly cleaner than the old diesels of past generations.
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What are diesel’s specific advantages over other energy sources?
Diesel power offers a number of advantages over other forms of energy. It is safer than other alternatives due to its low combustibility rate. In addition, diesel provides better fuel economy, greater power density, better performance, unmatched durability, and longer engine life than other energy sources. Overall, diesel is the most energy-efficient internal combustion engine available.
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Why are diesel engines more efficient?
Diesel systems are more efficient due to the nature of the fuel and how it is burned. Diesel fuel has a higher energy content than gasoline. Plus, diesel engines ignite that fuel with compression rather than a spark plug, creating more torque and using less fuel to produce the same amount of power.
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Do clean diesel engines offer any environmental advantages over other types of engines?
Clean diesel engines emit lower levels of certain emissions compared to gasoline engines. Diesel emits only small amounts of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide. In addition, the fuel efficiency of diesel engines means they burn considerably less fossil fuel and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
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How are modern clean diesel systems different from the engines of 10 years ago?
The industry has made significant strides in recent years to develop diesel systems that are cleaner and more efficient than ever before. Thanks to state-of-the-art engines, cleaner-burning fuels, effective emissions-control systems, and advancements in the fuel injection system, it would take 60 trucks sold today to equal the soot emissions of one 1988 truck. Data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that the level of diesel particulates in the air fell by more than 37 percent during the 1990s.
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Are there any alternatives to diesel power in industrial applications?
Although diesel is the dominant form of power for many industries, engines today can be powered by natural gas, solar energy, wind, batteries, and hydrogen fuel cells. Diesel systems remain unrivaled, however, for industrial and manufacturing applications that require power, efficiency, durability and reliability.
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Is it normal for diesel engines to emit black smoke?
No. New clean diesel engines do not smoke and have been designed to be smoke free since 1994. When a diesel engine emits excessive smoke, it means that it is out of tune, in need of maintenance or not operating efficiently. Black smoke is caused by unburned fuel and indicates wasted energy and money for the operator. It is in the owner’s interest to take corrective action quickly.
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What is the industry doing to continue clean diesel's record of continuous improvement?
The industry remains committed to building the cleanest engines and are taking steps to lower emissions from existing fleets. New emissions control technologies such as particulate traps and catalytic converters can be used to upgrade many older diesel engines and reduce pollutants by up to 90 percent. Overall, cleaner fuels and cleaner engines will reduce particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions by 98 percent from 1988 levels. The result will be the virtual elimination of emissions from on-highway engines.
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