If I remember my diesel arguements correctly, EU diesel fuel is supposed to be much "cleaner" than US diesel, thus increasing FE and lowering emissions.

Can't tell you about the '98 model, but the '05 320d is listed here:

http://www.parkers.co.uk/choosing/sp...&model_id=1345

Specs are:

Weight: 1360 kg
Power: 160 bhp
Top speed: 140 miles per hour
0-60: 8.0 s

By the way, Bluetec is not the only way to bring diesel NOx back down to gasoline equivalent levels, a much cheaper way is with this type of catalyst:

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006...s_onboard.html

This system does not require major engine modifications or additional fluids, and can easily meet US Tier 2 Bin 5 specifications.

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/ecotech/ecot.htm

Isn't the U.S. adopting similar diesel standards next year to EU? This should lead to a large influx of diesels in the U.S. As I understand Honda is planning on bringing their excellent diesels over. I can't wait, as a smug hybrid owner, smug VW TDI owner's get on my nerves. It would be great to have Honda reliability with a diesel engine.

Diesel fuel in the US, presently, can have sulfer content as high as 600 ppp if I recall correctly. Later this year by law it must be reduced to 6 ppm ( ULSD ). This and the NOX problem keep diesels from being marketed nationwide so only a niche player like VW makes an effort. The conversion from the higher sulfur fuel to ULSD will not be overnight IMO so 2008 is realistic to see diesels from everywhere start to flood into this market.

Honda announced yesterday a diesel Odyssey option along with an Acura MDX option for 2009. They are the same vehicle - only different. The Odyssey is really a key player since it is often the primary vehicle of the woman of the house and if it's a positive experience - BLAM - diesels are off and running.

Hybrid diesels seem like a wonderful option to 'multiply' the inherent benefit of diesel over traditional gassers. Using biofuel in a diesel feeds my inner hippie as well . Now a PHDV ( Plugin Hybrid Diesel Vehicle ) powered by B100 is Nirvanna.

Diesel engines aren't good at starting and stopping which is probably why hybrids are mostly built from gas engines.

Diesels run so lean at idle that stopping is unnecessary, and also, starting and stopping reduces catalyst efficiency, as the honeycomb cools and then needs to re-heat (I refer to gas engines here).

Shell diesel in BC is already at 50 PPM and will be down to 15 (the new standard) in about 3 months' time.

2008 Mercedes-Benz B 200
2005 smart fortwo cdi pulse cabriolet
1966 Peugeot 404 Coupé Injection
1989 Peugeot 405 DL

We -USA-will buy Diesels-no question about that.We bought them in 1979> and we will buy them again.You could get Diesel Corollas,small Toyota trucks,Nissan trucks,Chevettes,Caddys,Peugeots,a little VW pickup,the little Isuzu pickup.
All these vehicles sold just fine.The cra_ I have read about "our" rejection of them misses the point.We "rejected" them because there was no point in paying more for a slow, noisy,smelly diesel when oil was $8/barrel!! I don't remember what the Diesel Premium was back then, but it was probably something like $500 or so on a Chevette(8% of the $5000 cost).
With $3 gas we will lap these new diesels up. We put up with smelly,slow and noisy back in 1979, we will sure as heck do it for $3 and climbing gasoline(back then gas suddenly went up(3x), but we all expected it to eventually decrease in price-now,no one expects that )They should be cheaper than a Prius type hybrid-maybe a $1500 premium over the gasoline version. For an honest 30% increase in FE the $1500 premium will be well spent.Luck,Charlie
Clett-thanks for the site. The BMW is roughly Prius sized-bit heavier and wider, a lot faster(8sec 0-60 vs 10.6)- with considerably lower Euro mpg( 49 vs-65). Pretty nice car-expensive-$40,000.A much higher performance car-much more luxurious also I would guess.

I think the idea of a constant-on diesel hybrid is worthy of production. Using the same philosophy of a smaller ICE boosted by the electric motor, an idling diesel could stay idling and charging until it is needed for powering higher speed travel. Diesels waste most of their fuel getting up to speed. If instead they could be used to charge the battery and for cruise power, the same bump in efficiency we see with gasoline based designs would probably hold up.

Once the fuel issue is resolved, I think we can expect to see more options there.

LiberalImage.com

Could you run an idle test with your Smart and report the L/hr.?

When I was adding a 1 kW inverter to my Prius, I needed fuel consumption data, scroll down to see the table:

http://home.hiwaay.net/~bzwilson/prius/priups.html

At idle in my car port over 12 hours, my NHW11 Prius:

• burns 0.0638 gal/hr. or 0.2417 L/hr.<
• peak power of 53 kw<

What is your diesel fuel burn at idle and the peak power kW?


BTW, when the ICE stops, the catalytic cooling is primarily radiant heat loss and limited convection.

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

I'm not going to run an idle test, because I don't have the equipment, but suffice it to say that a diesel "smokes" a gasoline engine in low consumption at idle. LOL

2008 Mercedes-Benz B 200
2005 smart fortwo cdi pulse cabriolet
1966 Peugeot 404 Coupé Injection
1989 Peugeot 405 DL