Hi All:

___I am not badmouthing the diesel here as I would love to own the Accord iCDTi (TSX platform here) with that magnificent iCDTi but let us face the facts. Diesel’s are not as clean as their ULEV/SULEV – PZEV counterparts even with < 30 ppm sulfur. The technology is there but not at a price you and I are willing to pay. Look up the Ford Diesel-Hybrid challenges. The University of Wisconsin’s (Moo-lander I think it was called?) entry used a smallish Diesel with adsorbing CAT’s and probably a PM filter. It supposedly met SULEV spec’s from 2 years ago and had all the performance of its std. ICE counterpart given the hybridization. I don’t think its tow capacity was quite there however? Someone back me up on this as it has been quite some time and I don’t have time to look it up right now …

___Another point is that many are seeing diesel $0.15 - $0.30/gallon higher then regular unleaded in the US right now. Home Heating Oil demand is walloping that market as it usually does this time of year. Another point of contention … The US has an ~ 30% diesel/70% gasoline refined mix. Europe has an almost opposite mix and sells back their excess refined gasoline to us because they can’t use it themselves. The probably helps dampen the gasoline market spikes somewhat?

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net