I, for one, look forward to the day when turbo-diesels are available in
plentitude in the US. However, I was under the impression that diesel
fuels in the US contain too much sulphur, making emissions compliance
problematic.
Dave Arbogast wrote:
Six months after I started (contractor) at the German-American automaker in
2001, I risked being fired - I directly e-mailed the CEO with a business
proposal to sell the diesel we make to the US market too. To my surprise, I got a
very good response. Basically, top US automaker executives believe most
Americans share the out dated views on diesel that has been expressed in this
forum. So, they are very reluctant to offer them here. That is changing in a
couple of month with Jeep http://www.jeep.com/crd - and already has with
Mercedes - the C320 diesel does 0 - 60 in 5.7 sec, and the gas version is 5.9...
so performance is BETTER with the diesel as is BSFC, at a minor cost & weight increase.
The current higher sulfur fuel we have allows the CRD to meet emissions in 47 states,
and in 3 years in all states (we are lowering the sulfur content by then)
I would not be so quick to dismiss the diesel rotary.
--
-dave
mailto:dave@arb.net
The stuff presented here is up to date Joe. This is from the latest info
available. The Heisler book was published in 1995. By technical book
standards that is up to date. As I said there have been no major breakthroughs
in 50 years since the turbo compound. I don't consider electronic injections systems and high rear axle ratios major break throughs. This goes for all kinds of
IC engines.
Except perhaps the wankel. The electric assisted turbo charger IMHO is
perhaps going to be a major breakthrough. I think you might see some reduction
in the displacement of economy car engines further improving the city mileage.
As far as a diesel wankel is concerned the wankel geometry is incapable of maintaining a useful combustion chamber shape and still reach the compression
ratios necessary for true diesel operation. That is not to say they won't
run on diesel fuel however. They will but you won't get the diesel BSFCs.
No doubt about it. At typical car cruise HP levels the diesel BSFC is much better.
The question is; are people going to buy diesels or are they going to
buy hybrids? My guess is hybrids until enough of them are out there
to firmly establish their disadvantages. I will go out on a limb and predict
that hybrids will eventually disappear off US roads just like the diesel
car did.
About ten years ago diesel car sales were much greater than they are
now. The VW turbo diesel Rabbit was particularly popular for awhile. Since that
time diesel car sales have dropped dead. Perhaps you can find a whole
new crop of diesel virgins to sell diesel cars to in the future :)
Paul Lamar
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