Diesel A Winner In Fuel Efficiency

Okay, they might not be as funny as a David Letterman Top 10 list, but they do get better mileage. Four diesel-powered vehicles placed among the Top 10 fuel economy leaders, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA.) The Volkswagen New Beetle, Golf, Jetta, and Jetta Wagon diesel models are the vehicles included in the efficiency rankings.

Diesel standee

flic.kr/p/82gno7

“This annual report highlights the near-term energy saving benefits of more clean diesel cars, pick-ups and SUVs in the U.S.,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum. “These rankings underscore the role advanced diesel technology could play in improving U.S. fuel economy and energy security.”

Diesel-powered passenger vehicles  Read more . . .

Biodiesel Jeep Very Cool

While the media has followed the success of the Toyota Prius gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle, it has been virtually silent on the success of the Jeep Liberty CRD diesel, which comes pre-filled with a mixture of conventional diesel oil and biodiesel. While sales of the Liberty CRD have been more modest than the Prius (just 10,000 units versus the Prius’s 100,000+) the Liberty’s sales figure has been double DaimlerChrysler’s projections. And it indicates that, against odds, there could be a growing U.S. market for diesel-powered vehicles, especially in light of the potential benefits of biodiesel, which has environmental advantages and can help wean the U.S. off foreign oil. Read more . . .