some posters have been recommending diesel engines vs gasoline in states.. here is update on Diesel's dirty secret: SOOT
When the price of oil shot up early in the decade. Germany, France, and Italy, responded by subsidizing the cost of diesel fuel. The upshot: Roughly half of all cars sold in Germany are now diesel-powered--and soot particles are starting to mount up. Several German cities recently flunked stricter European Union standards for air quality. Particle filters might resolve the problem, but they're expensive to retrofit (about $1200usd) and may be in short supply. Companies such a VW, BMW, and Damiler-Chrysler said they were just about there in terms of making diesels quieter, more powerful, and cleaner. As critics describe the situation--the automakers don't agree--the French hustled to put filters on their cars while the Germans never quite met the promised diesel emissions goals. Asked about diesel emissions at the DC shareholders meeting. CEO Jurgen Schrempp said factories, power, plants, and even agriculture were particle-producing culprits. (Some traffic researchers say vehicles account for half of all diesel particles.) That said, Mercedes said it plans to have diesel particle filters on all German diesels by fall.
BMW diesels due stateside in 2007
Goschel said BMW can meet 2007 emissions standards, esp.with teh phase-in of lower-sulfur diesel fuel over the next four years. He added that high torque and low fuel consumption make (a diesel) the most useful engine for an SUV.
Roundel magazine of bmw cca |
