Diesel potential in the US

[Curt]

Originally Posted by lrmaniac

Hi

Is Diesel more expensive than gas there in the US?

Diesel is less, about $0.30/gal less where I live, still cheaper than a gallon of beer

[trevor]

Originally Posted by dent

think another problem is emissions...

Diesel emissions are lower than petrol engines. Those smoky lorries and buses that you see are just badly set up, or just old.

Check this link
www.disco2.com/tech/td5engine/

In fact, the Discovery 2 exceeds all emission regulations world wide, without a catalytic converter. If you read the link, they also claim to have enough "reserve" on the system to meet or exceed regulations for many more years.

Biodiesel is available in many countries, with even cleaner emissions and is a renewable energy source. Better than the 30,000,000 barrels of oil consumed every day on this poor planet.

Also, deisel engines do more miles-per-gallon than petrol.

PS - Poor Rudolph Diesel, the German inventor of the engine, died in poverty before seing his invention take off.

PPS - Henry Ford did NOT invent the motor car, this was Gottleib Daimler, a German, later involved in the founding of Mercedes

[Mr Tj]

The big problem right now in the US is now the engines, but the fuel itself.

US diesel has a far higher sulphur (sulfur over here) content than the European counterpart, and since the EPA particulate emission standards would apply in the same way as for a gasoline / petrol engine, there are significant problems with making a powerplant that runs on the 'dirty' US diesel that can still cope with the emissions criteria.

Right now the fuel standards for diesel aren't set to change for around another 4-5 years to better quality / lower particulate fuel, so it might be a while before we start seeing serious change over here.

When you see F-150s etc with Diesel powerplants, they are generally on a truck registration, where the emssion standards don't apply.

[Lawnmower]

I got a TD5 Defender (Diesel) up to 105MPH on the Motorway

[mbruneaux]

U.S. Diesel emissions are too stringent, and I can't remember what it was but there was another reason was that "green" politicians didn't want any more diesel dust in their cities. I say let the market decide. VW diesels are popular here in New England.