 Edward "Ed" Garren, MFT is a Family Therapist, justice activist, former West Hollywood City Council candidate, writer and sojourner. Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
But aren't diesel's slow, noisy, smoky, and hard to start? Oh yeah, my parents had one in the 60s, it took forever to get up to freeway speed, and when it did, you couldn't hear yourself think. NO THANKS !!
If that's what you know about diesels, then get ready to be surprised, VERY surprised.
There are all sorts of reasons why almost half the cars in Europe are diesel powered, and those reasons have started to arrive in the United States, and not a minute too soon.
I pulled this from "Wikpedia." Do the math, no gasoline or hybrid car on earth can match this fuel mileage:
"On a demonstration drive, a Volkswagen 1-litre diesel-powered car used only 0.89 litres of fuel in covering 100 kilometres (264 mpg {US}, 317 mpg {Imperial/English}) – making it probably the most fuel-efficient car in the world. Bosch’s high-pressure fuel injection system was one of the main factors behind the prototype’s extremely low fuel consumption.
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Production record-breakers in fuel economy include the Volkswagen Lupo 3 L TDI and the Audi A2 3 L 1.2 TDI with standard consumption figures of 3 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres (78 mpg {US}, 94 mpg {Imperial}). Their high-pressure diesel injection systems are also supplied by Bosch."
 Photo by Ed Garren. |
So, what's changing? The fuel is changing. After years of procrastination, the United States has finally adopted "Ultra Low Sulfur" diesel fuel. It was first introduced this summer, around July first in some locations. By now, virtually all diesel pumps are dispensing Ultra Low Sulfur diesel. Even if the labels haven't caught up, the tanks have.
What's the significance? All of the new "Clean Diesel" technology, much of which has been in place in Europe for decades, requires Ultra Low Sulphur fuel.
If you remember the 1970s, then you remember the introduction of "Unleaded" gasoline. In 1971, gas stations started pumping unleaded gas, and the pumps had a smaller diameter nozzle. That small diameter nozzle was the gate keeper for the cars that came in 1975, which had catalytic converters. The catalytic converter did what no amount of tuning and tweaking could do, it substantially cleaned up exhaust emissions in gasoline cars. The cleaner air we enjoy today is largely responsible to the catalytic converter, which must be run with unleaded gasoline.
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Well, the same thing is about to happen to diesel. Their primary emissions, Nitrous Oxide and "particulate matter" (a fancy name for smoke), can now be cleaned up much the same way the catalytic converter cleaned up gasoline cars. But that "clean" technology won't work if there is sulphur in fuel, so it had to go.
Once the diesel fuel distribution system and pumps have been cleaned up and the sulphur gone (early 2007), New cars and trucks, with this new technology will hit the streets, probably badged as 2008s.
 Photo by Ed Garren. |
Technology to retrofit existing trucks is also poised for introduction next year. So within about five years, most of the particulate matter and Nitrous Oxides from diesel trucks will be gone.
In the meantime, if you live in states that allow the sale of diesel powered cars, you can get the few that are offered that deliver outstanding fuel economy.
Last winter, when gasoline hit $3.00 a gallon in North Carolina, I decided to go diesel. I got on the internet, and went shopping on "Cars dot com" (www.cars.com). I found a 2003 Volkswagen Jetta, with low mileage and went down from Asheville to Charlotte (about 125 miles) to look at it. The car was the lower end trim model, but came fully equipped (just no sunroof or wood trim). It had a 5 speed manual, and full comfort equipment, and about 30,000 miles on it. The car drove well, the terms were good, so I bought it. In addition to the original factory warranty, I get 2 years 24,000 mile used car warranty as well.
Most importantly, fuel economy is stunning. The car gets around 45 MPG around town (combined city/freeway). On the highway, mileage has been up to 60 MPG on one tank, but usually averages around 50 MPG. The higher mileage was attributed to driving under 70 MPH. The lower figure was measured while doing 80+ MPH on the open freeway.
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Next important, the car is a real kick to drive. It is quiet, quick, smooth, and is so much fun to drive I don't even mind shifting in city traffic. Because is has more torque than a V6, at that torque comes in at lower RPMs, it requires far less downfhifting. A friend borrowed it for an afternoon and was so impressed he went out and got the very last diesel Beetle (2006) in Portland. He traded in an Audi A4 Quattro which was costing him about $50 a week to fill up. He loves the Beetle, which has a six speed automatic transmission. He says it's faster, more comfortable, and he's getting 43 MPG around town, around 50 on the highway. We calculated that he's saving about $150 a month on fuel.
 Photo by Ed Garren. |
Now, if you're sitting thinking, "but I own a hybrid that does about the same, so what's the point?" here's the point. Diesel is proven technology. There are no batteries, no electric motors, no switching equipment inside, no large electrical conductors to do strange things in or after an accident. Did you know that Emergency Medical Teams and Fire/Rescue teams have special training and equipment for hybrid cars? Cutting open a hybrid to remove a trapped person takes special skill and equipment. If the saw cuts through one of the electrical conductors, it can cause a spark, like that of an arc welder, which can ignite spilled gasoline, or burn the occupants.
Then there is cost. It is coming down, but all that extra technology costs extra money. Diesels can be priced very competitively with their gasoline counterparts.
Imagine a DIESEL hybrid. A small diesel engine, like the prototype mentioned above that got 264 miles on an American gallon of fuel, powering a hybrid car, could get about double the mileage of current gasoline powered hybrids, and possibly more.
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The current Honda Civic Hybrid is powered by a 1.3 liter gasoline engine. Imagine that same Civic Hybrid powered by an engine like the 1.0 liter diesel prototype described above.
 Photo by Ed Garren. |
Imagine 140 miles on a gallon of fuel. That is very feasible with a diesel powered hybrid.
The reason is very simple, diesel fuel has more hydrocarbons per unit than gasoline, about twice as many. Because it is ignited by compression rather than ignition, the compression ratio is about double that of a gasoline engine. That's what gives a diesel so much torque (about twice as much). Torque is the low RPM power that is used most in stop and go city traffic. It is also ideal for powering the alternator in a hybrid auto. It can power that alternator at about half the RPMs of a gasoline engine, often at about 2/3 of the displacement.
Diesel is also easier to refine, requiring less energy to make. Greenhouse gas emissions are lowered in relation to fuel efficiency. So a diesel that gets double the fuel mileage also emits half the carbon dioxide of a gasoline engine.
Is this starting to make sense now?
This is why most of the "green" cars in Europe, including the legendary SMART cars, are all diesel powered.
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So, as you wonder how to reduce your "carbon foot print" on the planet, consider one of the new diesel powered cars that will be for sale next year. You'll be very happy if you do.
 Photo by Mikel Gerle. |
See you at the diesel pump. If I'm not there with the Jetta, I'll be there with the Bronco, which now has a Cummins Turbo Diesel engine in it. To the best of my knowledge, it's the only Bronco in North America with a diesel engine in it. I get double power/mileage with it too.
Money will buy a bed, but not sleep; Books but not brains; Food but not an appetite; Finery but not beauty; A house but not a home; Medicine but not health; Luxuries but not culture; Amusement but not happiness; Religion but not salvation; A passport to everywhere but heaven.
Naomi Judd, "Love Can Build a Bridge", the book.
Edward "Ed" Garren, MFT is a Family Therapist, justice activist, former West Hollywood City Council candidate, writer and sojourner. He is originally from the Tampa Bay area of central Florida. Ed has been published in the Los Angeles Times, Frontiers news magazine, and other books, including "Out of My Mind", a pictorial memoir by Kris Nelson.
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