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Reducing Fuel Consumption & Transportation-related GHG Emissions: Reversing the Trend with Clean Diesel Technology

Allen Schaeffer of the Diesel Technology Forum introduces Michael Walsh of the International Council on Clean Transportation, Kevin McMahon of Martec Group and Michael McAdams of the Advanced Biofuels Coalition at a briefing discussing the reduction of fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions through clean diesel technologies. The event was held in the Dirksen Senate office building on Capitol Hill.

Clean diesel fuel and engine technologies will play a critical role in America's effort to reduce petroleum consumption and CO₂ emissions, experts agreed Thursday during a panel discussion on Capitol Hill. Diesel-powered heavy duty pickup trucks produced from 1994-2007, for instance, will save the U.S. 48 billion gallons of fuel over their useful lives – the equivalent of taking 7.5 million cars off the road, said Kevin McMahon, managing partner of The Martec Group. The trucks will reduce CO₂ emissions by 537 million metric tons, the equivalent of removing 42 natural gas plants from the electrical grid.

Other panelists included: Michael Walsh, Chairman of the International Council on Clean Transportation and Michael McAdams, leader of the Advanced Biofuels Coalition.

Walsh emphasized that the world's vehicle population has exploded since the 1950s to 1.3 billion, along with the demand for petroleum. The growing need for fuel-efficient vehicles that also reduce greenhouse emissions makes clean diesel technology more important than ever, Walsh said. 

McMahon echoed Walsh’s statements. He presented the findings of a study that focused of the more than 5 million heavy duty diesel pickup trucks and the 30 new diesel cars and trucks being introduced over the next 36 months, and compared them to other technologies such as high-performance gasoline and hybrid electric engines. The diesel-powered pickups saved 21 times more fuel than all the hybrids combined from 2003-2007, the study found. 

McAdams concluded the briefing by discussing next generation renewable diesel fuel, predicting that it will be commercially viable by 2011-2014. The next generation biofuel is likely to come from a number of different sources, from algae to sugar cane to animal fats - or combinations of these. "the move from first to second generation biofuels will be the difference between an eight-track tape and an ipod," McAdams said, producing greater energy output and performance, lower greenhouse gases and improved fuel-quality performance.  

The meeting was followed by audience Q&A and an open discussion with the speakers.