Thanks for the informative and interesting post.
In particular I'm interested to hear about the many manufacturers with new diesel offerings in 2007 to accomodate the low sulphur fuel.
What is the mercedes CRD thing?
The CRD (Common Rail Direct injection) is the Diesel used in the Jeep Liberty, and rumor has it that it will soon be offered in other Jeeps, probably the Wrangler at minimum. It, or some derivation of it, may be introduced into their cars.
Mercedes has always been on the forefront of Diesel technology, and their new BlueTec technology, using injected urea, promises to make Diesels as clean as gasoline engined vehicles.
From Car.com:
"Diesel fuel sold in the United States contains large amounts of sulfur, and this sulfur content, among other factors, is what causes a diesel engine to run dirty with nitrous-oxide emissions. With Bluetec technology, emissions are reduced through the use of an oxidizing catalytic converter, a particulate filter, and what Mercedes calls a DeNOx nitrogen-oxide reducing system. DeNOx is the key here, a storage catalytic converter designed to treat engine exhaust gases before they are emitted from the tailpipe, and it reduces nitrogen-oxides by up to 80 percent. A reducing agent called AdBlue is injected into the gases contained in the storage catalytic converter, releasing ammonia which converts the nitrogen oxides into harmless nitrogen. The separate tank that stores the AdBlue is refilled whenever the car returns to the dealer for service.
To work properly, Bluetec technology requires the use of low-sulfur diesel fuel, defined as that with a sulfur content below 15 parts per million. This type of fuel will be available in the U.S. starting in the fall of 2006, at the same time the E320 Bluetec goes on sale, but may not be widely available. Over time, however, the fuel will become the standard in North America, and DaimlerChrysler will be ready to capitalize on this with a fleet of Bluetec-equipped cars and SUVs wearing Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Mercedes-Benz nameplates.
Designed to meet upcoming 2009 emissions regulations and beyond, Bluetec is no temporary fix. In Europe, where half of all new vehicle buyers choose a diesel model, more than 10,000 heavy-duty trucks already use Bluetec. Plus, Mercedes-Benz plans to connect Bluetec diesels to hybrid drive systems to create even cleaner, greener, and more efficient vehicles in the future. Clearly, DaimlerChrysler thinks that diesel will power tomorrow’s cars in greater numbers, and Bluetec will be the instrument it uses to ensure success."