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"Clean Diesel" marketing came out around 2007-2010 when US emissions regulations tightened significantly.

It's important to note that so far the only manufacturer to be proven to cheat on emissions is Volkswagen. There are allegations against other manufacturers, but so far they haven't been proven. Although, the fact Chrysler recalled their vehiclesdoesn't look good for them.

The real problem here is the severity of the regulations, not the cars themselves. If passenger trucks were held to the same standard there wouldn't be a single redneck "rollin' coal" out there.

"Severity of the regulations" should be the banner of every whining industry that's been forced to clean up their act.
In this case, it's possible to be compliant but VW et al didn't want to implement a system that might have reduced performance or increase cost slightly.
So they chose to lie & cheat. Not the 1st to do this, won't be the last.

The US trucking industry is very proud that more than 1/3rd of medium & heavy commercial trucks are considered near-zero for particulate emissions, up from less than 10% in 2007 and claims that a single truck from 1988 would emit as much as 60 new trucks.
http://www.dieselforum.org/new...

My response is that it's all long-overdue, that it should be at least 75% compliance by now and that ALL vehicles should be held to the standard.

Because it's (almost 20 years into) the 21st century

USians won't consider diesels? My arse...

As of 2005, 42% of stations in the US sold diesel: http://www.dieselforum.org/news-center/pdfs/March2005.pdf

Here in Ohio, I haven't had a problem finding it. Some stations sell it, some don't, but I'm never too far from a station that does sell it. And, almost every BP station that's been renovated around here has been installing a diesel nozzle at every pump. (Myself, I fuel at an unattended station that has a biodiesel pump.)

As a general comment, the arguably stupid part of the fixation on SUVs is that if everyone stopped driving them tomorrow and drove a Prius instead, it would have a negligible impact on oil consumption in the US. That fixation is fundamentally misplaced.

I fail to see the logic. I fill my Prius for $20 and drive 400 miles. I hear people talk about $60 to fill the tank. Cutting consumption by almost half is arguably stupid how? Using half the oil consumption for personal transportation would have a negligible impact on oil consumption how? Please explain. Ya I know that trucks, buses, trains, etc would not be a factor, or could they?

I saw an article in the local paper where the local train switchyard just got a hybrid yard engine with impressive results. Japan has Hybrid buses. It's on the way folks.

http://www.dieselforum.org/technology-spotlight/di esel-hybrid-corner/
http://www.dieselforum.org/technology-spotlight/di esel-hybrid-corner/bnsf-green-goat-release/

As a general comment, the arguably stupid part of the fixation on SUVs is that if everyone stopped driving them tomorrow and drove a Prius instead, it would have a negligible impact on oil consumption in the US. That fixation is fundamentally misplaced.

I fail to see the logic. I fill my Prius for $20 and drive 400 miles. I hear people talk about $60 to fill the tank. Cutting consumption by almost half is arguably stupid how? Using half the oil consumption for personal transportation would have a negligible impact on oil consumption how? Please explain. Ya I know that trucks, buses, trains, etc would not be a factor, or could they?

I saw an article in the local paper where the local train switchyard just got a hybrid yard engine with impressive results. Japan has Hybrid buses. It's on the way folks.

http://www.dieselforum.org/technology-spotlight/di esel-hybrid-corner/
http://www.dieselforum.org/technology-spotlight/di esel-hybrid-corner/bnsf-green-goat-release/

Personally I cannot wait for someone to build a diesel hybrid. Now that ought to get some good MPG!

Actually Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel will reach mass distribution in the US on 10/15/06, 90% of diesel being refined today is similar to the stuff from Europe =) For more info see this press release from the Diesel Technology Forum.

Doing a little google research bears out your claim (to my surprise). Of course, the Prius is rated at 60 mpg, without using diesel engines. A big difference (between the Prius and my Civic) is that the Prius is primarly an electric motor with gasoline support and the Civic is primarily a gasoline engine with electric support.

Perhaps a electric-diesel hybrid would be a great way to go. GM has developed e-d hybrid buses to national parks, but of course comparing their mpg to a car wouldn't exactly be fair.

Nevertheless, every additional car with good mpg strikes another blow for the environment. I've even heard Ford bragging recently on a commercial about having several cars with mpg greater than 30!

Let's face it, cool car ideas come from people who love cars the way most /.ers love processor overclocking, water-cooling, and case mods. Convincing a wider audience that tweaking a hybrid will make it jump up and dance is never a bad idea.

Of course, as a side note, the industry's approach to hybrid autos is flat out wrong. Railroad trains are very efficient, well-proven hybrid designs: their diesel engines are always running at the most efficient level, and their momentum is provided entirely by electric motors. Tres spiffy.

The EPA has released the Top Ten List of fuel economy winners for year 2003. The top slots are occupied by the Hybrid electrics (as expected) followed closely by Diesel cars. Diesel fuel injection systems are responsible for some European cars able to achieve remarkable fuel efficiencies of upto 75 mpg. They also have lower emissions and are quieter to drive. Europe's embrace of Diesel powered vehicles has caused their refiners to unload their excess gasoline across the Atlantic helping keep gasoline prices at our pumps steady even if crude oil prices keep rising. Increasing the popularity of Diesel powered passenger vehicles has always been known to be a part of the solution to meet todays national environmental and energy goals. However, the lineup of cars with diesel engine options for the North American buyer is still very limited. I wonder why . Here is a website dedicated to Turbo Direct Injection Diesel (TDI) cars that are known to have phenomenal fuel efficiency. You can read more about fuel efficient diesel applications in this Diesel Forum .

Yes, this is would be a good argument if it was based on fact.

Here is a detailed discussion regarding TDI emissions: here

We don't have anyone to blame for these emissions except ourselves and our elected government. The fact is most of these emissions are due to the exceedingly crappy refining standards for diesel fuels in the US. Fuel quality is far higher in Europe where impurities are all far lower since they've been removed from the fuel before they arrive at the pump. Sure, this may not change your mind and you may be tempted to dismiss the thought but we all breathe in the emissions from heavy trucks that use diesel. What kind of diesel emissions do you want to breathe in?

If that doesn't turn your crank, how about using biodiesel in your TDI: requires no conversion, just the challenge of finding a pump. But that's worth it right? Or is saving the environment only interesting if its also easy? Biodiesel is now commercially available in major metro areas, you just have to find it.

Mechanical Engineering's Take on Diesel
Note where VW has to import Euro Diesel to showcase its cars in the US
VW's take
A whole whack of info on the future of [bio]diesel