GOING GREEN: Clean Diesel Technology

As America works to reduce and eventually eliminate its dependence on foreign oil, there is a push to bring alternative fuel vehicles to market. Electric, compressed natural gas and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are under development but will not be major players for several years. Diesel, while derived from oil, can serve as a bridge because of its efficiency. Vehicles travel farther on diesel, thus consuming less oil.

Diesel has not been popular on the U.S. consumer market because the engines were significantly noisier and produced smelly, soot-filled exhaust. However, new federal guidelines have produced new technology that nearly eliminates all of those concerns.

I recently tested the 2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d, a clean diesel powered sports utility vehicle. Compared to its gasoline powered version, the X5 diesel is much quieter than expected, produced no noticeable odor, and achieved significantly better fuel economy.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Cars
• automotive
• diesel
• clean diesel
• BMW
• alternative fuel
• Going Green

[01fastrace]

I have a diesel Oldsmobile 98 4-dr. It is a 1981. It gets about 28 mpg on the highway@ 70 mph and 17 in the city. Remember this car is a tank and 28 mpg @70 mph was a miracle back 30-yrs ago.

The original engine blew in 2001 @ 150,000-miles. Now it is on engine #2 with right at 70,000-miles of trouble free driving.

Very few cars that are 31-years old still have the same engine.

I wonder if the new Ultra-low sulfur diesel hurts older diesel cars?

[mwoolfolk]

@01fastrace My father had a 1979 Toronado diesel; a 1980 Cutlass Calais diesel; and a 1981 Cutlass Supreme sedan diesel. They were great cars.  A bit loud, but great! Ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel is safe for use in all diesel engines.

[ericvansingelcomics]

Try 40+ with my jetta TDI....

[janisliepins]

Also in europe we are making biodiesel, it is from plants , no more oil needed to make diesel look in google for that. It smels like pankakes when car is driving with it So peples in usa will know about it after 10 years.. Because in eourepe all new cars 80 % are diesels...

[dukee155]

Why doesnt GM make a diesel GMC, or a diesel Buick.

[3000love]

Well some people can afford a nicer car then A VW, and personally I think they are ugly good engines though.

[the1kingofdarkness]

SHUTUP

[drewbg3333]

Diesel is the Same price as Gas where I am. and I was able to travel 779 miles on 14.5 Gallons of diesel. That around 56 MPG for my trip. VW has the best car for the money with there TDI models.