 |
|
|||||
|
||||||
News Center
Earth Day 2008: Meet Clean Diesel
What’s “UP” with Diesel Fuel Prices?Diesel fuel prices nationwide are now over $1.30 more per gallon than this time last year. For many years, diesel fuel prices seemed to always be cheaper than gasoline. What’s happened? The Government’s energy price and supply arm – the Energy Information Administration (EIA), recently commented on this issue providing a broad perspective on the current diesel fuel price situation. Turns out a variety of global market, economic and product supply issues have come together to push diesel to record levels.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger visits the Diesel Technology Forum booth at the Green California Summit & Exposition
Click here to see DTF’s presentation – Low Carbon Fuels 2008: An Automotive Manufacturer’s Perspective. Diesel Industry Applauds EPA Funding for Diesel RetrofitsDTF applauds the Environmental Protection Agency for making almost $50 million in grant funding available for retrofitting diesel vehicles and equipment. Diesel retrofits are one of the most cost effective means to reducing particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions and as a result, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) is considered to be one of the most fiscally responsible programs with some of the highest cost-benefit ratios of any federal initiative. Read EPA Press Release- EPA Makes $50 Million Available to Clean Up Diesel Engines Nationwide Read more about DERA. Toyota Prius Proves a Gas Guzzler in a Race with the BMW 520 Diesel
Is this a case of man bites dog? A mid-size BMW sedan equipped with a diesel engine returned better fuel economy on a 545-mile, London-to-Geneva, run than a gasoline-powered Toyota Prius. A BMW 520d with a 2.0-liter diesel engine and regenerative braking (but no heavy duty hybrid features) got 41.9 mpg while the full-hybrid Prius, 500 pounds lighter, got 40.1 mpg. Clean Diesels Make the Grade
Clean diesels meet emission standards and will be included in upcoming National Academy of Sciences Report on Technologies to meet new vehicle fuel economy standards. The National Academy of Sciences – National Research Council’s independent review panel on technologies to meet new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) Standards issued an interim letter February 14 to Nicole Nason, Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration outlining preliminary assessment of technologies and potential fuel economy benefits. “The motivation for including light-duty diesel technology in the new report stems from the fact that the light duty diesel vehicles in production and in widespread use in Europe have already demonstrated a 30-40% reduction in fuel consumption, depending on engine size, compared with 2007 model-year gasoline engines. In addition, the emissions performance of diesel vehicles have improved. Upcoming Webinar - Registration Open!
Diesel Hybrids: The Best of Both Worlds March 13, 2008 Now that both diesel and hybrid models are available commercially, the two technologies are combining to further improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions in school and transit buses. During this webinar, speakers will discuss the technology and performance behind these engines and offer a cost-benefit analysis for those interested in buying new and cleaner vehicles. For additional information and to register online click here. Next Stop for Clean Diesel: Chicago Auto Show
New diesel vehicles continue to finish first at auto shows across the country. Several exhibits at the Chicago auto show will highlight green cars, including clean diesel vehicles. Read about recent diesel announcements from this year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit and see a list of diesel vehicles currently available in the U.S. Diesel Fuels Up For DC Auto Show
New diesel vehicles continue to finish first at auto shows across the country. Several exhibits at the DC auto show highlight green cars, including clean diesel vehicles. Click here to see recent news coverage from the show. In case you missed it last week, diesel was a highlight of the North American International Auto Show. Diesel Shines at Detroit Auto Show
New diesel vehicles continue to finish first at auto shows across the country, most recently at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit where nearly twenty diesel cars, pickups and SUVs are on display. So far in 2008, 12 auto manufacturers announced or introduced at least 13 diesel models to the U.S. market and unveiled four concept cars with a diesel powertrain. BMW Announces Diesel Offerings for U.S.
BMW Group announced this week that it will debut two vehicle models equipped with the BMW Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit – the X5 xDrive35d and the 335d – successfully meeting the strict exhaust emissions requirements of the North American automobile market. Click here to learn more, or view the other vehicles Coming Soon to the United States. Energy Bill Reinforces Critical Role of Clean Diesel to U.S. Energy Policy
The Diesel Technology Forum, issued a statement as President Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (HR 6). By requiring a 40 percent increase in fuel economy and 30 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from new automobiles, today’s signing of HR. 6 will transform the technologies and fuels used to power our vehicles in the years to come. Clean diesel is one such alternative energy that will play an increasing role in the future. See the clean diesel vehicles currently available in the U.S. as well as those coming soon. Click here to read the full statement. At Bali Summit on Greenhouse Gases, Leaders Consider Clean DieselAs world leaders meet in Indonesia this week for a U.N. conference on climate change, clean diesel technology may factor into global solutions for reducing emissions. Technologies and actions which promote energy efficiency, energy independence and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions are becoming increasingly attractive to global as well as national, state and local policymakers. Diesel’s 20-40 percent greater efficiency offers a viable and readily available strategy to help reduce GHG emissions and the amount of fossil fuels used in the transportation sector. Diesels, Hybrids Much Better Than Ethanol-Fueled Cars on Social BenefitsA new study published by policy think-tank RAND Corp. forecasted the outlook for clean diesel vehicles in the U.S. saying, “the rate of diesel penetration in the light-duty market should increase steadily and substantially.” Diesel topped all other options in a cost-benefit analysis from both a consumer and societal perspective. The study attributed diesel’s potential to a number of factors including consumer demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles and the increased availability of ultra-low sulfur diesel. John Graham, senior author of the study, noted diesel’s advantage over competing technologies, saying, “it is assumed that the hybrid vehicle will save more fuel than the advanced diesel, the overall advantage goes to the diesel because of its lower technology costs and better performance such as increased torque.” Download a copy of the study, and read more about light-duty diesel vehicles or read the related USA Today article. Magic School Bus is No Illusion
Readers of the “Magic School Bus” children’s book series have become familiar with the bus’ frequent explorations of scientific marvels seen in everyday life. Now the series is turning its attention to kids on real school buses, showing the magic inherent in current diesel technology. The new children’s book - a joint project between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Scholastic Inc. - encourages readers to ride along with new innovations in emissions reduction as they look under the hood of their own diesel school bus. Click here to watch a WUSA-TV story from the announcement. Diesel “Challenges Gasoline” as Viable Option for American ConsumersA recent New York Times special automotive section on “Going Green” profiled a number of different technologies being developed by automakers to reduce oil dependence and maximize fuel economy. It was no surprise that diesel topped the list of viable options available to American consumers. Diesel fuel is available at over 40% of all filling stations nationwide, and an increasing number of these efficient, clean, powerful vehicles are hitting the road today. Click here to read the full story. Click here to view a list of diesel vehicles available in the U.S. and get a glimpse of what’s ahead. Clean Diesel: The One Year Anniversary
October 15 marks the one-year anniversary of ultra-low sulfur diesel’s (ULSD) arrival at U.S. fueling stations nationwide – a pivotal milestone for the diesel industry and America’s environmental progress and energy security. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that this year, thanks to a combination of cleaner diesel fuel and new engine technology, sulfur oxide emissions (a contributor to acid rain) from heavy-duty trucks will decrease by more than 100,000 tons and carbon monoxide emissions by more than 70,000 tons. Get more information about this exciting chapter in the diesel industry's history, including photos and video. Diesel Vehicles a "Smart" Choice for the MoneyA recent article posted on SmartMoney.com profiled the economic sense of purchasing a diesel vehicle. The article went on to describe the benefits that diesel owners have known for years: low maintenance costs, superior fuel economy and performance, and a shorter break-even point for investing in diesel technology. Click here to read how diesel is a smart choice for consumers. Diesel Vehicles Rated as “Best Values”
A recent article in Kiplinger magazine highlighted a number of solutions available to consumers looking to save money and drive an environmentally friendly vehicle. Among the frontrunners were clean diesel cars, trucks and SUVs, noted for their inherent fuel efficiency, low emissions, and biofuel potential. Click here to take a look at some of the diesel vehicles coming soon to the U.S. market. Diesel Equipment Gathers Fall Harvest, Plants Seeds for Further Off-Road Emissions Reduction
With the beginning of the fall harvest season, farmers are relying on diesel to power the agricultural equipment needed to gather and process crops, as well as the vehicles transporting crops to market. This year, agricultural diesel equipment will join other off-road equipment in switching to a cleaner blend of diesel fuel, to reduce emissions. Retail fueling stations are required to make low-sulfur diesel fuel available for use in off-road farming, construction and mining equipment by October 1st. This is just the first step toward further environmental progress for the diesel industry. Read more about the off-road diesel industry’s commitment to reducing emissions. Diesel Power Brings Students Back to SchoolDiesel-powered school buses helped many students start the new school year right, powering a safe, efficient and reliable return to classes. Modern school bus engines use the latest diesel technology to mitigate emissions and enhance fuel efficiency, making diesel just as clean as natural gas buses. Diesel is also the safest and least combustible power choice for school bus fleets to use in keeping children safe as they travel to and from school and other activities. Read more. J.D. Power Report Finds Increased Interest in Clean Diesel Vehicles
J.D. Power and Associates, a consumer research organization, reported a nearly doubled increase in clean diesels from consumers considering the purchase of a new vehicle within the past year. Citing concerns over fuel efficiency and high gas prices, alternative fuels and powertrains were also noted as rising to the top of consumer choices during the past year. Over 23% of consumers surveyed said that they would consider buying a clean diesel vehicle, a 12% increase from a similar 2006 survey. View the list of diesel vehicles available in the U.S. Six-Month Checkup Shows Few Headaches over 2007 Clean Diesel Engines
In a recent article, reporters from Diesel Progress magazine surveyed a number of fleet owners and operators to learn more about their transitions to new 2007 clean diesel engines. The response was very positive, with many of the fleet managers reporting no problems with the new technology. Initial concerns about fuel economy and performance have been quieted by the "outstanding" performance from the new engines, with many companies placing additional orders. Click here to download a PDF of the story, or view more comments from the field. Article provided courtesy of Diesel Progress. For subscription information, click here.
New Report: Clean Diesel Boom Coming
A new report, entitled Is Diesel Set to Boom in the U.S.?, expects sales of clean diesel cars, trucks and SUVs to outpace hybrids over the next five years. The report predicts that sales of both diesel and hybrid vehicles will grow in the U.S. as legislators increase fuel economy and emissions standards. Diesel vehicles, however, will outpace hybrids by 2012, selling 1.5 million vehicles, compared at an expected 1.2 million hybrids. Read more. Clean Diesel Offers Savings at the Pump this Memorial Day
May 23, 2007 - More than 38 million Americans will take to the roads this Memorial Day weekend. However, those driving diesel cars will notice a significant savings at the pump due to lower diesel prices and greater fuel efficiency compared to those driving cars using regular gasoline.
Clean Diesel Ready to Help President Meet His “20 in 10” Goals
May 14, 2007 - President Bush has called for the rapid |
Print This
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger visited the Diesel Technology Forum booth and a considerable amount of time getting to know the vehicles from DTF member BOSCH's diesel fleet that were on display at the Green California Summit & Exposition in Sacramento. Gov. Schwarzenegger and California Secretary of State and Consumer Services Rosario Marin heard more about clean diesel technology and how it offers California a practical, affordable, near-term strategy to help meet the state’s CO2 reduction goals.
