Diesels give best bang for buck

Opinion: June 24, 2013 at 12:00a.m.

By Allen R. SCHAEFFER

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

FREDERICK, Md.

Are we there yet? With summer knocking at the door, many Americans are contemplating an old-fashioned hit-the-open-road summer family driving vacation.

But the pinch of higher gasoline prices and fast- aging cars in driveways means the first stop for many vacationers might be a car dealership.

For Americans looking for new fuel-efficient cars the choices are plentiful. But for those looking for a proven technology with long-term value that delivers better real-world fuel economy without sacrificing performance, the new car may not use gasoline at all.

For more Americans this summer, the smarter all-around choice will be a new clean diesel.

The new generation of clean diesel cars is guaranteed to impress and crosses generational boundaries like a family reunion at a resort park.

Baby boomers will reflect on how the new diesels are “nothing like the old ones of my day — thank goodness!” Gone are the clatter and smoke, and wheezy slow performance.

They’ve been replaced with clean, quiet and fun to drive. Generation X’ers will appreciate the driving performance, long-term value and positive return on investment of the new diesels.

Millenials will “Like” and “Tweet” how awesomely far they went on one tank of fuel; a new twist on the range-anxiety plaguing electrics and other fuels. They’ll also be ready to fill up with a blend of biodiesel fuel, a unique capability shared by all diesel cars old and new.

GREAT TIMING

Whatever the generation, the resurgence of the diesel car in the U.S. comes at a critical time, because the 30 percent fuel efficiency advantage of diesel over gasoline means using more diesels will reduce demand for petroleum and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

And since new government rules require a near doubling of fuel efficiency from today’s 27.5 mpg average to 54.5 mpg by 2025, it’s easy to see why diesels are a logical choice for consumers in the U.S. where diesels account for less than 3 percent of the market. In Europe over 50 percent of new cars are diesels.

Today consumers have 22 diesel choices from 10 brands — subcompact cars, small station wagons, crossovers, full size SUVs, luxury, performance, half-ton and heavy-duty pick-up trucks.

Five years ago less than half that were available. By 2015, there will be twice as many diesel choices.

More choices are better, because we’re not a one-size fits all country. From 2010 through 2012, registrations of hybrids were up 33 percent while diesels increased by 24 percent.

Meanwhile the overall auto market was up less than 3 percent. While Texas and all its big pick-up trucks help it rank number one overall in diesel registrations, drivers in California, Massachusetts and New York made those states the fastest growing for sales of new diesel cars and SUVs.

All new fuel and vehicle technologies have premium prices and compromises, but when you run the numbers for long term value, diesel drivers are seeing green.

Allen R. Schaeffer is executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum in Frederick, Md. (dieselforum.org)) Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.