There has been a lot of news recently about improved passenger diesel engines. I’ve seen stories where they say that the newer diesels are cleaner, not dirty and smelly like the older ones. The last time I checked the numbers though, they weren’t that clean. They were much cleaner than older diesels, but not nearly as clean as a modern gasoline engine. It was probably a few years ago that I looked into it. Now I’m seeing more about diesels, especially in light of the high gas prices. Have there been any further improvements, that bring them close to gas engines?
(I’m posting this because there are stories in the news about a diesel Ford Fiesta that gets 64 mpg, that they’re only selling in Europe. Everybody who comments on it seems convinced that it won’t sell in America simply because Americans consumers are ignorant and afraid of diesel.)
Our county is going to have to implement air pollution controls. The particles that are a problem are the ones from diesel engines according to the local paper.
This is a subjective question.
The problem is that diesels produce higher levels of some pollutants, while gasoline engines produce higher levels of other pollutants.
Society and its policy makers must make these decisions, which are not directly amenable to determination by mathematics or direct observation.
It wouldn’t matter if they were as clean as gasoline engines. If you get twice the gas mileage and are close to the gasoline standards then you are way ahead of the game because you’re producing half as much.
But yes, the new diesels are cleaner. Part of the problem with selling the cars in the United States is the perception of lousy performance and fussy engines. You may see a diesel car advertised with a different name for the engine such as stratified charged or some such marketing ploy.
I for one would LOVE a little Escort Wagon with a turbo diesel. The idea of 150 hp and 230 lbs of torque getting 50 mpg is a win/win. It would be fun to drive and get good gas mileage.
Also, the new diesel fuel is cleaner. ULSD, or Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel, has been required in California for road vehicle use for just over two years now, and it will be mandated nationally by the end of 2010. Marine and railroad users will have another couple of years to adapt and/or adopt modern emissions control technologies. The high levels of sulfur in older fuels would destroy the effectiveness of emissions control systems, much like leaded gasoline would ruin the catalytic converter in your car.
How low is ultra? Before 2006, low-sulfur diesel had as much as 500 ppm of sulfur. The ultra-low stuff now has only 15 ppm. Before low-sulfur diesel came out, regular fuel had as much as 3,500 ppm of sulfur.
I didn’t realize there was such a difference. If we go to algae based bio-diesel it has no sulfur in it. I would love to see the world become energy independent using bio-diesel.