Washington, D.C. - With diesel fuel prices dipping to the lowest levels since 2009 the U.S. vehicle market is prime for potential market increases as several new 2016 clean diesel cars and pickup trucks prepare to hit showrooms in the coming months, according to Allen Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum.
Last week, AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report indicated that diesel fuel was cheaper than regular gasoline in 21 states and significantly cheaper than Midgrade and Premium gasoline. Today, California is the state with the largest gap as diesel is 70 cents cheaper per gallon than regular gasoline.
"The major decreases in diesel prices have emerged at a perfect time for drivers as almost 20 new clean diesel cars and pickup trucks are preparing to enter the U.S. market," Schaeffer said. "And when you combine the lower cost of diesel fuel along with its 20 to 40 percent higher fuel efficiency than gasoline, clean diesel vehicles make more economic sense for buyers than ever.
Diesel Dominated Trucking Industry & Farmers Also Benefit
"These low diesel prices are also great news for America's truckers, farmers and construction firms. With 98 percent of all heavy duty trucks in the U.S. running on diesel the price drop is having a major positive impact on the transportation of goods and agricultural production."
Diesels Have Economic Advantage Over Gasoline Vehicles
To further highlight the economic benefits of clean diesel vehicles, Schaeffer noted that a University of Michigan study released this month "found that the total cost of ownership-depreciation, fuel costs, repairs, maintenance, insurance, and fees and taxes-is often much less for diesel vehicles as compared to gasoline versions of the same vehicles, mostly ranging from $2,000 to $7,000 over three to five years."
Diesels Provide "Real World" Environmental Benefits Right Now -- Not Years Down the Road
"We currently have a new generation of clean diesel passenger vehicles with proven real world fuel efficiency," Schaeffer said. "These vehicles are clean with low CO2 emissions, they provide great performance, they are renewable fuel ready and most important - they are available to the American public right now.
"Clean diesel is not a 'bridge' concept or 'down the road' expectation. These vehicles are on the road right now providing impressive hybrid like mileage and meeting the same emissions standards as gasoline vehicles."
According to research commissioned by the Diesel Technology Forum, diesel cars and pickups are expected to make up about seven percent of the market by 2020 saving almost eight million tons of carbon emissions and about 24 million barrels of crude oil.
"Low diesel fuel prices that come in under already low gasoline prices are sure they send signals to interested car and truck buyers to consider the diesel option," Schaeffer said. "More new clean diesel cars and trucks will help improve air quality, reduce carbon emissions and promote energy independence."
ABOUT CLEAN DIESEL
Cleaner diesel fuel, advanced engines and effective emissions control technology make up a new generation of diesel. It's clean diesel.
What is clean diesel?
What makes it different from regular diesel?
Clean diesel is the new generation of diesel made up of a three part system that combines cleaner diesel fuel, advanced engines and effective emissions control technology. This new system ensures that clean diesel engines will continue to play a dominant role in the future while helping meet energy security, greenhouse gas and clean air objectives around the world.
Cleaner Diesel Fuel
Clean diesel fuel, containing 97 percent less sulfur, is now the standard for both on-highway and off-highway diesel engines nationwide. Using this ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) immediately cuts soot emissions from diesel vehicles and equipment by 10 percent. Reducing the sulfur content of diesel fuel is similar to removing lead from gasoline during the 1970s.
Cleaner diesel fuel enables the development of a new generation of advanced engines and emission control devices that can't operate effectively with higher sulfur content in diesel fuel. This three part clean diesel system enables emissions reductions of over 95 percent from vehicles and equipment.
Why is diesel technology so fuel efficient?
Due to a combination of the energy rich properties of the fuel, and the efficiency and completeness of the combustion of fuel to create useful mechanical energy. Diesel is a petroleum based fuel with the highest energy density among transportation fuels which produces more energy per gallon than other alternatives. The U.S. Energy Information Administration states that few transportation fuels surpass the energy density of diesel.
Read DTF's Diesel Fuel Study - Diesel: Fueling the Future in a Green Economy.
Advanced Engines
Diesel is the world's most efficient internal combustion engine. It provides more power and more fuel efficiency than alternatives such as gasoline, compressed natural gas or liquefied natural gas. Read more about the history of the diesel engine.
Fuel combustion is the primary difference between gasoline and diesel engines. Gasoline engines ignite fuel with spark plugs whereas diesels ignite fuel with compression.
Inside the engine, the combustion of air and fuel takes place under pressure and heat created by compressing the air-fuel mixture so intensely that it combusts spontaneously, releasing energy that is transmitted to powering the wheels on a vehicle, the piston's motion and creating mechanical energy.
Advanced new technologies such as electronic controls, common rail fuel injection, variable injection timing, improved combustion chamber configuration and turbocharging have made diesel engines cleaner, quieter and more powerful than past vehicles.
Effective Emissions Control Technology
Introduction of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuels for both on and off road applications has been a central part of the new clean diesel system designed to meet near zero emissions standards. With the introduction of lower sulfur diesel fuel, a number of exhaust treatment systems such as particulate filters, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), selective catalyst reduction (SCR) and diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC) can further reduce emissions from diesel engines.
The installation of various emission control technologies may also improve emissions from older diesel engines through retrofit capabilities. Read more about retrofit capabilities to reduce emissions from older vehicles and equipment.
CLEAN DIESEL VEHICLES AVAILABLE IN THE U.S.
A thorough list of clean diesel cars, trucks and SUVs currently available in the U.S. Clean diesel is a proven technology that is quiet and fun to drive.
Recent advances in emission control technology, combined with the introduction of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel in 2006, enabled diesel powered cars and pickup trucks to be certified for sale in all 50 states, generating greater interest in this new generation of clean diesel cars and SUVs. These changes, combined with higher gasoline prices, and market success of a limited range of existing diesel products, have prompted vehicle manufacturers - notably Audi, GM, BMW, Daimler, Mazda, and Volkswagen - to consider diesel as a new option for passenger vehicles or to expand the number of diesel offerings available.
Clean Diesel: All of the Power, None of the Smoke
Clean diesel technology in today's properly maintained vehicles emits near zero levels of emissions. That's why we call it #cleandiesel. Clean diesel engines eliminated black smoke since 2007 with the introduction of new particulate filters. And because diesels deliver up to 40 percent better real world fuel economy, national fuel economy standards for cars and light duty trucks beginning in 2017 are also expected to be met in part by an increasing number of clean diesel passenger vehicle choices.
Exhaust from new clean diesel trucks is so clean it passes the "white handkerchief test." If you hold a handkerchief next to the tailpipe and rev the engine, it stays white picking up no smell or black soot.
Numerous New Clean Diesels
Already Available or Coming Soon
Below is a list of the announced new clean diesels coming to the U.S. in the next 18 months.
2016 Diesel Vehicles
Audi A3 Sportback TDI
Audi A4 TDI
Audi Q7 Plug-In Hybrid TDI
Golf SportWagen TDI
Jaguar XE 20d
Jeep Wrangler
Mazda6 SKYACTIV-D
Mercedes Benz GLE 350d
Porsche Macan Diesel
Range Rover HSE Td6
Range Rover Sport HSE Td6
Volkswagen CrossBlue Plug-In Hybrid TDI
2016 Diesel Trucks
Chevrolet Colorado
GMC Canyon
Nissan Titan
2017 Diesel Vehicles
Audi R8 TDI
Bentley Bentayga
Volkswagen Golf GTD
