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The Dirty Truth About 'Clean Diesel' (nytimes.com)
HughPickens.com writes: Volkswagen persuaded consumers it had created a new generation of so-called clean diesel cars — until investigators discovered that phony testing concealed that its vehicles emitted up to 40 times the permitted levels of pollutants during regular use. Now Taras Grescoe writes in the NY Times public outrage over the fraud obscures the much larger issue: "clean diesel" is causing a precipitous decline in air quality for millions of city-dwellers. Monitoring sites in European cities like London, Stuttgart, Munich, Paris, Milan and Rome have reported high levels of the nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, or soot, that help to create menacing smogs. Although automakers worked hard to convince consumers that a new generation of "clean diesel" cars were far less polluting, diesel has a fatal flaw. It tends to burn dirty, particularly at low speeds and temperatures. In cities, where so much driving is stop and start, incomplete diesel combustion produces pollution that is devastating for human health.
Fortunately, Volkswagen sold only half a million of its "clean diesel" cars to the American public before the emissions scandal broke. Today, fewer than 1 percent of the passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. run on diesel fuel. Europe is now scrambling to undo the damage. In London, Mayor Boris Johnson last year called for a national program to pay some drivers to scrap their diesel vehicles. In Paris, Mayor Anne Hidalgo has gained broad support for a proposed ban on diesel cars. "Last month, the signatories of the climate deal in Paris agreed that the world has to begin a long-term shift from fossil fuels to more sustainable forms of energy," concludes Grescoe. "Recognizing "clean diesel" for the oxymoron it is would be a good place to start."
Fortunately, Volkswagen sold only half a million of its "clean diesel" cars to the American public before the emissions scandal broke. Today, fewer than 1 percent of the passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. run on diesel fuel. Europe is now scrambling to undo the damage. In London, Mayor Boris Johnson last year called for a national program to pay some drivers to scrap their diesel vehicles. In Paris, Mayor Anne Hidalgo has gained broad support for a proposed ban on diesel cars. "Last month, the signatories of the climate deal in Paris agreed that the world has to begin a long-term shift from fossil fuels to more sustainable forms of energy," concludes Grescoe. "Recognizing "clean diesel" for the oxymoron it is would be a good place to start."
All the small engine Japanese compact and subcompact cars these days. E.g. Nissan Juke - 3500 miles or 3 month, whichever comes first. A lot of the new Hondas and Suzuki's too. 1.4L 4cyl turbo, 188bhp, 28mpg on the highway running over 3200 rpm at 65mph. The inside of the tail pipe is covered with heavy sooth, because you know, turbo cars have to run rich, so the temps stay low. 3.5 quarts/liters of oil, 4 liters of coolant. Don't compare with European engines. The older VW 2.5 5cyl atmospheric engine with 168bhp was built to last. 9 quarts/liters of oil and 12 liters of coolant was built to last, and was doing 36mpg on the highway at 2400 rpm 65mph. The new VW 1.4 TSI ... not so much (lasting). It will wear out years before the 2.5 engine of the Mk VI golfs. And it does have sooth, just put your finger inside the tailpipe and look at what sticks to the sides.
A car should not be scrapped well before 600k. It is planned obsolescence. And yes. getting 3 cars over a period of 15 years is much more harmful to the environment than driving a single car for 15 years.