So-called "clean diesel" stories have been appearing all over the newspapers, business magazines, automotive specialty and trade magazines and online auto-related posts.So now the question becomes: Will American’s buy a car-powered by a diesel engine? The latest news about diesels have pushed its good points. But there are some bad.
First, a diesel engine adds $2,000 to the price of the car. Huh. Aren’t hybrids marked up the same amount? Second, they still aren’t clean enough. While they are as clean as a 50-state-legal gasoline engine, they still can’t achieve the ultra-clean SULEV emission standards. Third, diesel fuel is not as widely available in the U.S. as gasoline. And it’s expensive. It’s already broke the $4.00 a gallon ceiling with a gallon of diesel fuel can cost as much as $7 a gallon.
Fourth, it will take many, many, many, many years of driving and even than the fuel economy of diesel may not ever recoup the extra cost of the diesel engine. Hey! Isn’t that the argument against — gasp! — hybrid engines as well.
Look for Mercedes-Benz to be holding a special event to introduce its Bluetec diesels at the New York Auto Show this week. It is expected that Audi, Volkswagen, BMW, Honda, Nissan and others will be introducing diesels to the U.S. market, too.
Additional details and opinions can be found at the link above. Our take? So, now that you know some additional facts that the diesel supporters haven’t been telling you, do you still want a diesel?
The early-adopters for diesels will be hard-core believers that buy them in spite of the high purchase and fuel prices. In time, I believe market forces will bring down the price of fuel, and diesels may become a more compelling purchase.