AutoblogGreen

Well, let's give credit where it's due: Production automotive diesel engines now exist that rival the cleanest gasoline engines in their emissions (well, except for carbon - where diesel does far better). This could not be said just a few years ago.

Large truck idling is a separate issue that affects a number of aspects of truck transportation, and is finally being addressed on several fronts (including small auxiliary generators that support on-board living facilities without using the primary engine, and truck-stop-supplied HVAC for overnight stays).

If I had to guess, video screens in the display trailer weren't the real problem. The air conditioning (or heat, depending on the season) probably ran all day, which requires a fair amount of power. I'd like to see them find a way to hook up to the grid for such events, but it isn't always practical to set that up for a temporary show.

Still, the irony of the situation stands out. A pity someone at VW didn't recognize that up front, and take steps to fix it for such events.

Meanwhile, how about some nice clean, affordable family-friendly diesel vehicle options? I'd love a non-truck/SUV diesel vehicle with 3+ LATCH safety seat positions (Yup, I've still got 3 kids in seats).

Haven't seen one yet in the US.

For awhile, I hoped for a Bluetec Grand Caravan, but the DCX dissolution nixed that idea...

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Tour dates, locations:

http://media.vw.com/mini%5Fsites/64/dieselution/

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This article reminds me of all of the detractors who attack GM's claim of trying to be green by developing the Volt while still producing Hummer's.

Big deal.

Way to go VW and GM for working on green PRODUCTS for us to buy. Whether or not the company itself is green throughout shouldn't matter at all as long as those of us who want to be green now will have green products to buy.

While I'm at it... Al Gore is also not a liar since he lives in a big house. Hippie nit-pickers really have a way of missing the big picture.

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It is a shame that you didn't bother to look into the Dieselution tour further, or talk with someone. While it is only a step, VW is offsetting the carbon output of the Dieselution Tour through their partner, CarbonFund.org. You also say that you were there at the end of the day, but paint with a broad brush to say that they may have been running the truck all day. If you cared about the environment so much, you could have stopped to talk with the staff about what you saw and had some questions answered, instead of jumping to conclusions.

BTW, clean diesel has comparable emissions to clean gas engines and mileage numbers of 30% better.

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We have a guy who is arrogant toward diesel cars no matter what...

the saddest part is that he is an blogger at autobloggreen, it would be interesting to see whether his perception of diesel cars will change with time or whether it is always be like this.

Oh btw that lupo that is in the video would be great with diesel engine for long distance travel, and a battery pack with a motor for short commuting.

Polo is really great to compete against Yaris, Fit, and Versa.

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IMHO, VW USA has been struggling to hit the right notes for some time now. They need to take a more holistic look at how their target market defines "clean" these days and design all aspects of their marketing campaign around that. A poorly lit tractor-trailer with indoor displays at an outdoor event doesn't fit the bill. Neither does running the main engine to power the airco. VW could have used a stage truck instead, e.g. something like this:

http://www.vanhese.de/english/stage-truck-mobile/stage-truck.php
http://hosting.execu-tech.com/protech/Staging/StageTruck/StagelineSL100StageTruck/tabid/1367/Default.aspx

As for the technology being touted: clean diesel is far from pointless, it is in fact the best near-term fuel economy strategy for anyone who puts a lot of (highway) miles on his mid-sized or large vehicle each year. Single-mode gasoline hybrids are better only in stop-and-go traffic and the upcoming two-mode options will be very expensive. Future PHEVs and pure BEVs even more so. One size does not fit all.

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@ Lascelles -

the EPA reference you provide to back up your point regarding particulate matter discusses retrofit particulate traps for buses, which achieve reductions of 60-90% in that duty cycle. The wall-flow DPF technology that is integral to the design of modern diesel LDVs is quite different and over 98% effective at eliminating PM10. In combination with ULSD, PM emissions from such vehicles are no longer the major health issue they once were. Also consider that there are many other sources of PM10 immissions besides LDV diesel engines: HDV diesels, brakes, tires, agriculture, industrial furnaces incl. power stations and home heating (especially if using wood, coal or heating oil).

T2B5 compliance adds NOx mitigation to levels considered acceptable for LDVs by both EPA and CARB. Not super-duper-hyper clean, but quite clean enough. The issue, then, is one of balancing the need for clean air against that for enhanced energy security/reduced CO2 emissions. Among other things, that means looking at US refinery capacity for both gasoline and diesel, as well as biofuel alternatives to both. Perhaps the picture is a little more complicated than Toyota's advertising has apparently led you to believe.

There are many people in the US who like yourself are biased against diesel and in favor of electric hybrids based on limited knowledge of the state of the art. If a number of European auto manufacturers were the only ones impacted by this, you'd be perfectly entitled to not care. However, the people who pay the price for not having access to the full range of efficient transportation technologies are US consumers - including your readers, whose wallet takes a hit every time they fill up.

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Hmmm, I believe that our Autocargreen blogger here is quite incorrect about the modern diesel and its future. A large percentage of passenger cars in Europe are diesels and I believe that they will become much more prevalent in the USA in the next few years. Today's diesel cars are quite clean and have around 30% better gas mileage than similar gasoline powered cars. Less maintenance and generally longer engine life, too. I know I'll be looking at diesel offerings from VW & Audi when they arrive here.

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To the OP: do you get turned on by the words "Tier 2 Bin 5"? No, neither do I. That's why they are pushing the "clean diesel" image. Because they can't just come out and say "Look, our diesel engines pass the same emissions as gasoline engines!" It's not sexy and no one really cares. Now, a clean diesel, that can be marketed.

I believe (bio)diesel is the best short-term solution that we've got. It already runs on any new(ish) diesel engine without any modification, it's produced domestically, and it's diesel, which has a higher energy density than gasoline ( and thus ethanol, too). Sure, the advertising campaign for this shindig probably cost what, $30,000 for the truck lease, $150,000 for the employees for however long the tour lasts, the cars: $100,000, double that for a good fudge-factor and we get $500,000. The engineering program to slap together a $1,000 mild-hybrid system on a car is probably going to run $2M - $3M or so, at least, just in engineering costs, let alone marketing, sales coordination and all that other stuff. And really, do you think a mild-hybrid could push fuel economy to 50mpg? It's doubtful.

Like a commenter said, about half of all new cars sold in Europe are diesel. They've also had diesels a whole lot longer than us, but they didn't have that knee-jerk reaction to the crappy, crappy diesel offerings that the Detroit-Three brought the U.S. in the 70's. That's what everyone remembers about diesels and it leaves a lasting stigma.

Volkswagen is just trying to change the minds of the people left with that stigma. Apparently you're one of them.

I believe one of the problems about being a blogger for such a forward-thinking movement is that one has to embrace solutions and progress that may not be one's most favored solution, but you have to admit, bringing a "clean diesel" is certainly way better than what we've got now.

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Contact Lascelles @ info@lascelleslinton.com

After reading comment #5 it is clear that Lascelles is the leader of the Ignorance Project.

This type of unbalanced bias discredits AutoblogGreen.

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Lascelles: I don't care, I'm going to buy a diesel car anyway.

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To Lascelle's comment that the tour is pointless - I disagree. It is very pointed. Most all of the tour dates are in MA, NY, and CA, with a few in IL and AZ, an obligatory stop to schmooze Canadian VIPs, and of course Vegas, baby.

Most of the stops are in CARB states, in case you missed it. Places where VW has not been able to sell new diesels for a long time. I think the real point of the tour is to get local TV news exposure that will let the clueless masses know that there's another high-mileage option that's not a Prius. And it may very well change some minds about diesel - who knows?

The tour, with the carbon offsets and all that jazz are pure marketing. The point is exposure, mostly in CA, and it will likely get some. You don't have to like diesels to understand that.

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This guy doesn't know what he's talking about.

First off I'm in automotive advertising and I have a tiny budget to push our future diesel projects. Secondly, the engineers that I am in contact with on a daily basis certainly believe in clean diesel technology.

I really am curious as to what substantiation you have for calling the new ULSD dirty?

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Massive strides have been made in reducing diesel particulate emissions. I expect more improvements in the future. Remember gasoline engines before no-lead and catalytic converters?

I remember diesel Mercedes models from the 70s - they were easy to recognize by the constant dirty black film on the rear of the car. We've come a long way.

Particulates matter - but they're no longer the major concern they once were.

Personally, I see EVs as a big part of the future. But I also recognize that the future is unlikely to favor only a single solution. Battery technologies are maturing - but still face difficulties in the marketplace as cost and reliability issues are addressed. Clean diesel is here today.

And let's not forget: It will be quite some time before the majority of electricity available to power those EVs isn't generated from good 'ol coal. That transition will be even more difficult and costly than moving away from gasoline.

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Hey AutoblogGreen - Maybe it's time to make sure that all of your authors agree on what is being posted on your site. It confusing the site's intent/image when you have this author bashing diesel and stating that it's not only to have another article posted within 90 minutes detailing the "ecological friendliness" of the Passat BlueMotion (http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/10/02/vw-snags-ko-trend-award-for-passat-bluemotion/).

Mr. Linton seems more concerned about arguing in the comments than about the topic he posted.

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