Diesel

Diesel. It's been widely used throughout Europe for some time, but it has never really caught on here in the states.

In Europe gas prices can be as much as five times what we pay for a gallon of gas. When the price spikes in fuel occured earlier this year, and we were complaining about $4/gallon gas, they suffered worse. So, while we were scrambling to pick up Civics and little eco-cars, the Europeans weren't quite as frantic. "Why?", you may ask.

In Europe, countries are not as distant as they are in the United States, allowing for very easy and economical means of transport by train. If you've been to New York City, you know many people rarely ever need a car, because the subway system is so much more practical. That is what the European train system is to Europe. And, when the need to have a car is inevitable, Europeans have a more reasonable approach to buying cars. Instead of large, heavy cars and SUVs, they purchase very small, light cars with small motors that return great fuel mileage.

Here is where diesel comes in. Even though they are sometimes chattery, noisy at idle, and sometimes lacking in power bandwidth, diesels can return incredible feul mileage. This is a big deal when gas costs easily $5-7 USD.

You would think that diesel would've been huge in the States when gas prices soared, but it didn't really come into stride. Even after people realized they could run on home-made vege-fuel. Too messy, I guess, when you have to store it in your home somewhere. I mean, the diesel truck driver may have gotten good use out of the new technology, but the diesel CAR never really took off. 

I believe this is because of two things. First, for many years it has been hard for diesels to pass certain emmisions tests, especially in California, and if it can't go to California, chances are it won't make it to the states. This has given diesels a bad reputation of being dirty, and in the past decade's sudden global environmental crisis, we can't use dirty anymore. Secondly, the recent implementation of hybrids and electric battery powered vehicles has deterred the idea of making cleaner and more efficient motors. Except for a select few auto manufactures: VW and Audi.

VW use to be the only diesel car option for the states. It can be modified to return 50+ m.p.g. Audi has made huge strides in diesel technology with their LeMans race car. They have even had campaigns to raise awareness and interest in diesel cars, and I think people are warming up to the idea. Mercedes and BMW offers their clean diesel, which utilizes urea pellets to clean greenhouse gases. They don't drive too bad, either. They're torquey, which is great for around town, return great mileage, and manufacturers have quieted them down quite a bit. 

"Well, if they're so great, why do I barely see them growing?"

With stringent emissions rulings becoming ever more stringent, and the push for less dependancy on oil, many feel diesel is just not the answer to the larger problem.

Not to worry though! Audi is still planning to bring a few diesels to the states, and I've read news about Mazda readying a diesel that is clean sans the urea injection.

Ahh, just the way I like it, MEAN, and green.