2009-06-20T18:46:00.000-07:00

Ease oil dependence by marketing diesels The Detroit News.....edited

Alternative fuels are all the rage, and they may play a major part in reducing America's addiction to oil. But a less glamorous alternative already available -- diesel fuel -- ought to get more respect.
The elements are all in place. The infrastructure exists to deliver it to vehicles; new, cleaner diesel fuel is now standard across America; and the immediate supply could be expanded quicker and easier than ethanol or any other alternative fuel.
In addition, diesel fuel is more efficient than gasoline, so drivers get more miles out of a tank. Though the vehicles cost more up front, recovering that cost is achievable in three or four years. Gasoline-electric hybrids, by comparison, even with the tax breaks the government offers, can take up to 10 years to recover the added costs.
There could be significant benefits from expanding the diesel fleet. Converting one-third of the U.S. auto fleet to clean diesels would save 1.4 billion barrels of oil a day, says James Eberhardt, chief scientist for the Office of FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies in the U.S. Department of Energy. Add in the fact that today's diesel engines are quieter, smoother and cleaner than ever before and the choice ought to be easy for those who want to save fuel and reduce our dependence on rogue regimes that produce oil. A move to diesel is one way to accomplish that.
Volkswagen Diesels ---Jetta, Touareg, & soon Golf ----up to 58 miles per gallon and all have no cost carefree maintenance for three years!

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