Diesel: The Fuel of the Future?

posted by Josh Goodman

The sexiest futuristic cars run on electricity and hydrogen. A few months ago, I wrote a feature describing how state and local governments were picking sides between these two fueling sources and, in doing so, may influence what powers the next generation vehicles.

Allen Schaeffer wrote me to point out, for lack of a better word, a homelier option. Here's what Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, had to say:

Josh—I read your story in the May 2007 Governing Magazine—It was a good intro to the trials and tribulations of the "hydrogen economy." As I remember reading the National Academy of Sciences independent panel on Fuel efficiency and vehicles about 4 years ago—they identified the H2 economy as at least 25 if not 50 years out.

I was hoping I'd see a mention of the possibility of more diesel cars coming to the US in your story – along the lines of more fuel efficient vehicles and ones that can run on renewable fuels – but there was no mention.  Diesel is the most energy efficient internal combustion engine and petroleum-based fuel out there today, and it can and does run on biodiesel blends—which incidentally are viewed as better renewables than ethanol for carbon balance and energy density. 

As you may know – about 50 percent of all vehicles sold in Europe have diesel engines which are about 20-40 percent more fuel efficient than today's gasoline and in the next year or two will be every bit as clean as gasoline.

Comments

[Rich]

Honda Motor Company has dropped the Honda Accord Hybrid as of the 2008 model year. However, Honda will be offering a Honda Accord Diesel in the United States starting with the 2009 models. The Honda Accord Diesel that they currently sell in Europe is rated at 42 miles per gallon in the city and 61 miles per gallon on the highway. It goes from 0-100K/H in 9.4 seconds and is rated at 140 horsepower. The 2009 Honda Accord Diesel that they plan to offer in the United States will be their turbo-charged diesel which will offer even better performance.
Honda believes the future trend in the automotive world will be the already proven technology of the diesel engine. Honda is known for quality, performance, and fuel economy. They wouldn't move in this direction unless they were very sure that they were correct.