But the Europeans have been been burning ultra-low sulfur diesel for years - and have had regulations on emissions as strict or more so for years.... The problem is new certifications required in this country (even though the European standards meet or exceed all the US standards.... gotta make them pay for recertification...).
Not to the new US standard. They were 50 ppm, we are now less than a 1/3 of that at 15 ppm. Quite a significant jump.
Further information on Europes Low Sulfur Diesel requirements. The 50 ppm only became the requirement in 2005. In 2000 they had lowered the limit to 350 ppm. Prior to that in 1996 they had lowered the limit to 500 ppm. The same level the US has been at.
so Europe is fairly new to the ULSD game as well.
In 2009 they are going to become even more strict than use lowering to 10 ppm.
Fuel Regulations, European Union
http://www.dieselnet.com/standards/eu/fuel.php
I believe the use of those older diesels will meet the US standard but some states, California notably but others also, have stricter standards. The new BlueTec engines meet all standards. Of course, I fully expect Kalifornica will pass much stricter standards soon because they hate diesels on principle.