Posted on 01/03/2007 9:18:11 AM PST by Red Badger
EPA “YourMPG” Data Reveal Diesel Vehicle Drivers Consistently Achieve Higher MPG Than Figures Displayed On Window Stickers
WASHINGTON – Diesel-powered vehicles deliver more real-world miles per gallon than the numbers on new-car window stickers currently indicate, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “YourMPG” database. The findings were detailed in EPA’s “Final Technical Supporting Document” accompanying the agency’s new fuel economy labeling rule released Tuesday.
The “YourMPG” data, compiled by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, includes 221 diesel drivers measuring their own fuel economy and providing their real-world MPG to an Internet database. EPA then compared this real-world data with the projected fuel economy calculations it requires for all new cars.
“As can be seen, diesels appear to perform the best with respect to their label fuel economy, outperforming the label by 4.3%,” the EPA technical support document said. Diesel was the only power source to see an increase in real-world MPG. Gasoline cars decreased by between 1.4%-1.7%, while hybrid owners saw their real-world mileage drop by over 8% compared to the current fuel economy label.
“It’s long been known that diesel is the most fuel-efficient internal combustion engine ever produced, typically providing 20-40% greater fuel-efficiency than other technologies,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum. “These reports from real diesel drivers across the country reaffirm diesel’s superior fuel efficiency, and will help consumers make future buying decisions when the next generation of clean diesel vehicles arrives over the next several model years.”
Automakers have recently announced a number of new diesel product offerings, and consumers can expect to see more diesel options available in showrooms starting in 2008. During this month’s Los Angeles Auto Show, DaimlerChrysler and Volkswagen teamed together to produce clean diesel vehicles for their Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz, VW and Audi brands under the Bluetec label. In addition, BMW, Cummins, Honda, GM and Nissan all announced plans to bring new light-duty clean diesels to the U.S. market starting as early as 2008.
To read the EPA technical report, visit www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/420r06017.pdf
Yes, there is a heavier maintenance schedule that, if strictly adhered to, will give you a a much longer lasting engine than your average gasoline engine.........But you can't take that used oil out of your gasoline engine and put it in your fuel tank..........or so I've been told..........
Thanks. According to that it is only 10 percent more for the engine, the rest is the same. The engine is probably only about a fith of the car price so I'd think a diesel Prius should only cost about 2 or 3 percent more.
Watch what happens at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit when every auto manufacturer unveils turbodiesel engines for automobiles that meet even the 2009 CARB emissions standard. Suddenly, even SUV's and light trucks aren't fuel guzzlers anymore; the prospect of even a big Cadillac Escalade full-size SUV getting 25 mpg on the freeway when powered by the Duramax V-8 turbodiesel looks very enticing.
I'm in the market for a new car to replace my old belching 1980's era Mercedes diesel (that I love, but isn't that comfortable), but don't want/have 50k+ to spend on an E-Class. I'm not really that fond of VW's.
If the auto-makers are introducing diesels into the 2008 lineup, can we expect to see them before the end of 2007?
More than likely. Honda is in the lead, I believe, with Toyota not far behind. BMW and Mercedes are also introducing new diesels.................
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