onthehunt wrote:
Wrong. Europe has different emission regs than we do. They are easier to meet. They also have better fuel. I don't think there is a current light-duty diesel legal for sale new in CA including the 3 liter blue-tec.
Mercedes brings diesel back to California -
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071015/FREE/71015006/1065/FREE&rssfeed=rss01Diesels motor back to California roadways - [url]http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/environment/2007-10-16-california-diesel_N.htm
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The E320 uses the same 3.0 liter as found in the Mercedes SUV and Grand Cherokee (however, I don' t know if the engine in those applications has been approved, or just the E320.) Current US parts per million standard for diesel fuel (the big headache for designing emissions controls) is 15 ppm, in Europe it is currently 50 ppm (to come down to 10 ppm in 2010, to make way for stricter regs there).
US automakers have known the ultra-low sulfer diesel standards were coming since 1999 when the plan for phase in was adopted. 8 years isn't enough time to invest in and develop technology?
onthehunt wrote:
Reason US automakers pitched a tantrum is all light duty diesels in the US come from europe. Since we have tougher emission standards they have to modify the engine even more to make it epa compliant. Add that to the miniscule amount of diesels actually purchased and you don't have to wonder where all the diesels have gone. Catch up?? I don't think so. We actually have to surpass them. Since most of the technology comes from them it's not gonna happen, at least not with a profit behind it.
They made the same argument on fuel economy standards in the 1970s... the Japanese had an unfair advantage, all the fuel efficient cars came from Japan, sales of fuel efficient cars were minor, etc... Then the oil crisis hit and they got crushed because they didn't posses any competative technology. In fact, they ended up buying the technology from the Japanese (what do the Chrysler's that were really Mitsubishi's and the 3.0 diesel in the GC have in common? Neither were designed by Americans.) Same is true with hybrid technology, where Ford is licensing the designs from Toyota.
The BlueTec diesels of VW and Mercedes (along with the planned Honda and Subaru diesels) are designed for sale in both the US
and the European market. The reason they have a technological advantage is because the US automakers ceded the diesel field. That Mercedes and VW invented emissions systems to meet California air regs and Chrysler didn't is not a reason to blame the EPA or CARB for being big meanies. Thats a little like the kid who flunked science class because he didn't study whining about the nerd who skipped all the parties to hit the books getting an A+. [/url]
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