Detroit Automakers Have Big Plans for Diesels
With the ink still drying on the 35 mpg CAFE revisiting that was recently signed into law, U.S. automakers know that diesel power will have to play a big part in their future. Every member of the Detroit Three has made some commitment to building around diesel engine technology in the near to mid-term future.
With diesel's combination of existing technology, and the ability to grant big gains in fuel economy, automakers know that adding a diesel option to some of their products could be an efficient way to bring fleet average mpg numbers up.
While today's diesel sales make up only about 3 percent of the U.S. auto market, some industry experts anticipate that number could rising as high as 15 percent by 2012. That change could be the linchpin to automakers achieving the 40 percent gain in fuel economy that has been mandated with new regulations.
(Click through the link to read more about Detroit's diesel plans.)
On top of the CAFE necessitated rise in diesel power, customer interest is starting to come around for the long-maligned technology. Diesel’s ability to provide higher mpg figures might ultimately prove the strongest selling point for American buyers, who are faced with ever-escalating gas prices.
Chrysler, General Motors, and Ford all have plans to begin the diesel push in the light-truck range. Chrysler has already lowered the price of the diesel option for its 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee to $1,000, and will offer a diesel engine in its Dodge Ram 1500 for 2009. Likewise, Ford has said that future generations of its F-150 will offer oil-burners. GM meanwhile will start by putting a V-8 diesel in its light-duty pickups, but says that the engine will be able to replace any of its small block V-8s.
Are U.S. automakers pursuing diesel technology aggressively enough? Have your say in comments.
Comments
Mena
All of this talk but still no diesels for sale or specs of the engines or vehicles that these motors will be installed.
Peter
The big 3 and major Japanese and European manufacturers offer diesel models to European buyers of their cars so it should be fairly simple to do the same in North America. Canadian and Mexican drivers pay more for their fuel so I'm sure they will be some of the first to switch over.
Attractive models to sell would be the Mini, Focus, BMW series 1 and 3, Caravan, Land Rover
VW and Mercedes give us a sampling this year of some of their range.
Cire
It's about time! This is good news!
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Mena
"The big 3 and major Japanese and European manufacturers offer diesel models to European buyers of their cars so it should be fairly simple to do the same in North America"
Nope! All of those new diesel motors will have to pass CARB to get sold here in the US. Not an easy or inexpensive task to do even for the car manufacturers. CARB is the reason we don't have more diesels in the US.
David Stawasz
I concur with Mina; it is about time that the Big Three woke up to the diesel's attributes. With the price of fuel escalating, it makes more sense to re-visit this engine. Now they just need to concentrate on its weaknesses, like need for low-sulphur fuel (to meet future emission requirements), its aversion cold weather starts (possibly cured with fuel additives and engine block heaters(?)Time will tell! D.S.
uli
Good news
low sulphur diesel has been available for the better part of 2007.
Just like it has been in Europe for some 20 years or so.
winter diesel does exist, and simple electric heaters for the fueltank and lines have been in use in europe for some 10 years.
considering that most of Europe gets just as cold as any part in the US, i don't see why what has worked for the last 50 years should quit working all of a sudden?
Consider that 18-wheelers are Diesels as well as all trains....
Volkswagen and Mercedes will have California emissions legal "blue" diesels available this year.
i believe we could all get used to cars with a 50 miles per gallon highway car....
Doctor Olds
Diesels are very appealing from a thermodynamic efficiency perspective. Diesel fuel has more energy- more BTU's per gallon, and the Diesel engine cycle turns 25% more of that greater amount of energy into work. The bad news is that Diesels are much more expensive to build, and with the extremely difficult emissions standards in the U.S. - much more difficult than the rest of the world - the costs are further amplified. Everyone wants fuel economy on the presumption that it is a simple choice by a vehicle manufacturer. The cold hard reality is that new vehicle customers balance capability, performance, purchase price and operating costs when making buying decisions. The added up-front cost of diesel engines is unlikely to be recovered by the operating cost reduction in the entire life of a non-commercial vehicle. It is clear that the market has not chosen fuel economy - over half of new vehicle sales are classified as trucks. People have, in effect, voted with there pocketbooks for capability & performance over fuel economy.
Biooil
I think we should allow an emissions "waiver" for any vehicle that is already imported or manufactured in the US that has a diesel in it's European version. This would allow manufactures to assess the US market w/o spending a but load of money to make the CARB modifications. Also, it would give N.A. drivers a chance to get used to the diesel's performance/economy. This waiver could last about 3-5 yrs.
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