Smart cars are looking better all the time.....

[SPhill]

From what I've been reading, Subaru may be the next contender in the North American clean diesel market and they'll be making a strong play. Give me an outback or forester with AWD and 35-40 MPG... i'd seriously consider trading in my VW TDI jetta wagon for that. They have a diesel boxer engine internationally, just need to get it cleaned up enough for US emissions. I think it'll be the first real diesel challenge to VW/Audi.

I would really like to see Subaru expand the clean diesel options. It is mature, immediately available technology.

With that, the market could settle into High efficiency gasoline, Clean diesel and Gasoline/electric hybrid as primary options. Plug-in electric (with range and charge time issues) will probably occupy a niche for at least another decade as the infrastructure is built and public acceptance grows.

 

[joecool85]

I would really like to see Subaru expand the clean diesel options. It is mature, immediately available technology.

With that, the market could settle into High efficiency gasoline, Clean diesel and Gasoline/electric hybrid as primary options. Plug-in electric (with range and charge time issues) will probably occupy a niche for at least another decade as the infrastructure is built and public acceptance grows.

I would love to see what you are describing. I bet we cut easily cut fuel consumption by 1/3 to 1/2 in the US doing that alone.

 

[begreen]

Loved my Subaru and wouldn't mind owning another one with much better mileage. For future options, don't forget hydrogen. It would be fun to try out the Honda FCX for a bit.

http://automobiles.honda.com/fcx-clarity/

 

[Billy123]

I drive a mini-van and I get around 19 mpg tops/ Hwy. I would the diesel version they sell in Europe. It gets around 10 more mpg than I do.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

I drive a mini-van and I get around 19 mpg tops/ Hwy. I would the diesel version they sell in Europe. It gets around 10 more mpg than I do.

Minivans may not be"cool" but they are everywhere and they are practical. Id like to see a hybrid or a plug-in Minivan as well as a light duty pickup plug-in. Would save a load of gas.

 

[Highbeam]

I drive a mini-van and I get around 19 mpg tops/ Hwy. I would the diesel version they sell in Europe. It gets around 10 more mpg than I do.

May be ONLY 10 mpg but that's a 50% improvement. Huge deal! The EPA should be ashamed for not allowing these machines in the country. You have to wonder why, it's not emissions really since there have been diesel pickups since the early 90s.

 

[Jags]

I drive a mini-van and I get around 19 mpg tops/ Hwy. I would the diesel version they sell in Europe. It gets around 10 more mpg than I do.

May be ONLY 10 mpg but that's a 50% improvement. Huge deal! The EPA should be ashamed for not allowing these machines in the country. You have to wonder why, it's not emissions really since there have been diesel pickups since the early 90s.

I think it has to do with the way we test for emissions. We test emissions per gallon consumed and I believe that most of the rest of the world tests for emissions per mile.

So if your SUV can pass the per gallon test and use 3 times the fuel it still passes, while a small diesel may emit slightly more per gallon, but use 1/3 the fuel....hmmmm....makes a person wonder doesn't it.

 

[SPhill]

Allowing for the different measuring systems, it appears all countries use grams/distance for personal vehicles and grams/power/hour for commercial trucks.

Europe, Asia and most of South America tests light/medium duty vehicles for grams of pollutants per kilometer:

All emissions are expressed in g/km.

The United States EPA tests light/medium duty vehicles for grams of pollutants per mile:

The same emission limits apply to all vehicles regardless of the fuel they use. That is, vehicles fueled by gasoline, diesel, or alternative fuels all must meet the same standards. Since light-duty emission standards are expressed in grams of pollutants per mile, vehicles with large engines (such light trucks or SUVs) have to use more advanced emission control technologies than vehicles with smaller engines in order to meet the standards.

For heavy duty trucks Europe tests grams per kiloWatt hour:

EU Emission Standards for HD Diesel Engines, g/kWh (smoke in m-1)

For heavy duty trucks the EPA tests grams per brake horsepower per hour:

EPA Emission Standards for Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines, g/bhp·hr

The California Air Resources Board appears to test grams per mile in the light/medium categories they test. Quite a few states adopt sections of the CARB.

China would appear to be the hold-out, with a mish-mash of adopted and modified European regs.

Source: Summary of Worldwide Emissions Standards (I just scanned it, I may have missed something.)