As General Motors begins to offer a diesel engine in a car for the first time in nearly 30 years, it’s remarkable to note how much diesel technology has progressed in efficiency, power delivery, environmental friendliness, and overall refinement in the last two decades. Unfortunately, it seems that public perception of diesel technology has not kept up with actual engineering and technology advancements, as diesel technology seems to have a way to go when it comes to being recognized by federal and state green-energy policies and policy makers.
That’s part of the reason that a 2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel shared a display with a 2013 Volkswagen Passat TDI at the 2013 National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) in Atlanta this week. The NCSL hosts over 5,000 people such as foundation and think-tank representatives, legislators from all political parties, legislative staff, government officials, business representatives, and those who are interested in public policy in general. The diesel-powered cars are at the NCSL thanks to the Diesel Technology Forum, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit.
“These clean diesel vehicles are excellent representatives of the latest diesel technology being offered in the U.S.,” said executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum Allen Schaefer in a press release. “Diesel technology has made tremendous advancements in recent years as manufacturers have invested billions of dollars in new research and development.”
Case in point: the 2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel, for instance, is rated at 46 MPG on the highway, and offers a fun driving experience and plenty of passing power.
The goal of Schaefer’s group is to call attention to the potential contributions of clean diesel power to increasing fuel economy and reducing emissions of U.S. vehicles, which should be particularly helpful to legislatures as they deliberate ways to meet state and federal environmental and clean-air goals.
According to Schaefer, “The NCSL summit provides us an excellent opportunity to showcase the latest in clean diesel technology to policy makers from all 50 states.”
The GM Authority Take
It will be interesting to see if policy-makers will divert their attention from electric vehicles and vehicles with electrically-assisted internal combustion engines (hybrids) to diesel-powered cars. After all, there’s a reason that General Motors is making a diesel-powered Chevy Cruze available for U.S. buyers, a strategy that complements the automaker’s Chevy Volt extended-range electric vehicle.
Comments
perhaps this would show if Chevy decides to put a Diesel on the Malibu
If chevy put a diesel in the Malibu can it be paired with the start stop tech? If not then why not?
Would the diesel power numbers in the cruze be enough for the mailbu and the impala? How much more power would be req for each bigger model?
Will we ever see a diesel in the volt?
If this is a conference of American states legislatures, why bring a German vehicle? Do the Germans bring a GM vehicle to their meetings? Maybe to laugh at it!
Most likely because the Passat TDI set some kind of a world record recently… and because outside the Jetta and Golf, it’s the only other diesel-powered car in the country. So while the Cruze Diesel represents the compact offering, the Passat represents the midsized offering — thereby demonstrating that there’s ample choice when it comes to diesel-powered vehicles. And given that the goal is to gain support for diesels in the U.S. (in general), the brand might not be as important as the existence of the vehicles.
“and because outside the Jetta and Golf, it’s the only other diesel-powered car in the country.”
There’s no Blutec MB’s or TDI Audi’s available in the US?
Incorrect, Audi, BMW, Mercedes all sell diesel powered cars in the USA.
Passat is made in Chattanooga TN, and is US specific. It’s no longer a “world” car. It’s been “right sized” to American tastes as the saying goes…
The Passat in Europe is very similar to the US model, true there are some slight European styling cues not present on the US model, but the US and European Passats are VERY similar.
I am not getting it. The Germans most certainly would bring a GM vehicle, and a Ford, too. GM has factories and an engineering center in Ruesselsheim, and Ford of Europe is headquartered in Cologne. The State police and other State agencies of Hesse drive a lot of GM cars ( Opels, that is ), and the NRW State government uses a lot of Fords. And they are not laughing at GM or Ford., So why should our State officials not look at a VW from Tennessee?
Its great, that the modern diesel is finally drawing attention as not only great mileage, but environmentally sound as well. None of the electric options can match what the new diesels can do.
The fly in the ointment, is the taxes levied on diesel fuel. In our state, (Michigan), diesel prices are more expensive than gasoline. I hope this forum jump starts the need to pair the tax on diesels down. Word of mouth is still the best way to promote a product, and it would help if diesel was the same price as gas, or better yet… Cheaper than gas. I’m sure that the big rigs would appreciate decent prices as well.
I personally think diesel engines are the way of the future. Hybrids are too expensive and diesels get as good or better fuel economy.
I think GM should offer a clean diesel engine in the Malibu and Silverado 1500.