Comments on: The Japanese Diesel Race

By: carLover

carLover — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:15:06 +0000

Diesel is great to the environment but got really high cost in the market. I've seen some news in Mercedes Blog about high-end cars like Mercedes and Volvo that got plans or already got some models that uses diesel. But with this advantage, can they decrease the cost of diesel?

By: MilwaukeeT

MilwaukeeT — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:12 +0000

Can someone please market a small turbo diesel hybrid? I'm not even asking for extended EV range here.

PLEASE??? Anyone???

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:36:28 +0000

FOD - our two posts agree quite well on most points. Both of our posts contradict the blog post, which is wrong in 1) calling Tier II Bin2 a CARB standard (even though they are similar), 2) suggesting the federal standares were traditionally tougher than CARB, and 3) not realizing that CARB and federal standards for
diesel cars are now very similar.

The only disagreement we have is on point 4, about whether a Bin2 diesel is realistically possible in the near future, and whether they'll be as clean as the cleanest hybrids.

But you saying that bin II is hard to meet for gasoline engines is a bit misleading. There are MANY Dozens of gasoline Bin II vehicles available. It must not be that hard.

By: Dom

Dom — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:06:11 +0000

Thanks for clearing things up “FOD”. It really bothers me when people bash a technology yet know very little about it.

By: KMCoates

KMCoates — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 05:34:51 +0000

Anonymous:
I appreciate your skepticism, but your lack of technical knowledge is showing.
1. Tier 2 Bin 5 and CARB LEV II are virtually the same.
2. Historically CARB has been tougher, but the goal is to commonize standards as much as possible, which is what is happening with T2B5/LEVII. Heavy-duty vehicles are already there.
3. Which is why everyone is aiming for T2B5/LEVII. Sell in CA means sell everywhere.
4. Much cleaner is a very relative term. The main difference between Bin 5 and Bin 2 is NOx, but the numbers are at such a low level as to be barely measureable. Ask CARB, they had to develop new test equipment to be able to measure below Bin5 levels. That said, Bin 2 is a real challenge for diesel, as it is for gasoline engines. On the other hand, PZEV's additional hurdle of zero evap? Not a problem, diesel's already there. Ask your E85 vehicles about that. Also curious of what you mean by "all the other errors in this post"--please elaborate.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:15:45 +0000

by the time r and d is done with diesel technology plug in hybrids willreder those oil burners OBSOLETE, WHY WOULD ANY ONE ON EARTH BUY A NEW VEHECLE THAT BURNS DIESEL AT 5 TO 7 DOLLARS A GALLONwhen a plug in hybrid might go100 miles on asingle charge????

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:28:48 +0000

It's great that Nissan is coming out with a diesel, but I have many problems with the emissions statement:

"Nissan said its European-derived diesel will not only meet California’s minimum emissions levels—known of Tier 2 Bin 5—but that its technology could be as squeaky clean as the greenest hybrids, meaning that it will be available in all 50 states."

This does NOT make any sense !
1. Tier 2 Bin 5 is a federal standard. (The roughly equivalent CARB standard is LEV II.)
2. CARB standards are typically tougher than federal, but the statement above suggests the opposite.
3. Besides, I thought the new Diesel standards are now as tough in the rest of the US as they are in CARB states. So any diesel that passes one should pass the other.
4. The best selling hybrids (Prius, Camry, Civic) are Tier II, Bin 2 ( and PZEV). This is MUCH cleaner than Bin 5, which is what other diesels (VW,Mercedes) are struggling to be able to accomplish in 2009. Considering all the other errors in this post, it makes me doubtful about your statement about this diesel being as clean as hybrids. A PZEV diesel? I'd like to see that (I really would).

By: Bryce

Bryce — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:40:59 +0000

O yea, and Turbo chargers I think are the way of the future. If u can switch v8 engines to v6 turbo chargers and v6 to 4 cylinder turbos, you would use less gas with the same or better horse power and aceleration.

On that note, the power generator in the volt is a turbo charged 3 cylinder, as I have heard.

By: Bryce

Bryce — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:35:39 +0000

I am curious which “big 3″ player you are talking about mr. steven tyler??? Also, what kind of vehicle might this application be put on? An economy car, a truck, a sedan??? (I will of course take whatever u say with a grain of salt….sorry)

Don’t forget about the Silverado Hybrid and all the vehicles that are going to get the 2-mode application. Mmm…..just imagine…..a 2-mode Malibu with the new styling. *salivates*

By: Need2Change

Need2Change — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:17:03 +0000

2009 will bring some interesting vehicles. The three Honda new Honda hybrids and an updated Prius probably top the list. I'm expecting all to exceed 50 mpg. The Ford Fusion hybrid could become a player as well if it can reach 40 mpg and is priced right.

I'm a little more on a performance nut than most who comment here, and I find the new Ford EcoBoost Technology interesting. Ford plans to replace the 300 hp 4.6 litre V8 engine with a 3.5 turbocharged V6, direct injection engine that has 350 hp, weighs 200 lbs less, and is projected to have 2 mpg better city and highway mileage. (I know. I know. Improving city mpg from 17 to 19 mpg does not appear to be a big deal for most. But for me, it is a big deal to build a lighter car that has 50 more hp and two better mpg.) (This may the the last chance to buy a new muscle car.)

But 2010 could possibly bring in the Volt, Plug-In Escape, Plug-In Prius, Mitsubishi All Electric car, Nissan All Electric, and many other innovative cars. And Israel and Denmark will begin implementing their electric car infrastructure.

The next couple years will be exciting, even though I'm not all that excited about diesels.