Green Diesel?

As we noted in our Daily Roundup yesterday, the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI was named Green Car of the Year at the annual Los Angeles Auto Show. The diesel-powered, turbocharged engine is EPA-rated to sip "clean diesel" at a modest 41 miles per gallon on the highway, 30 in the city. Many environmentalists might find the decision to bestow such an honor on an all-fossil-fuel-powered car a bit unsettling. While 41 mpg puts the TDI among the most fuel-efficient cars on the American road, it still scores an industry-average six points out of ten on the EPA's pollution rating system. So while "clean diesel" might be clean for diesel, it's still far behind the Honda Civic Hybrid and Toyota Prius, which both achieve a better fuel economy and pollution score than the Jetta TDI.

- Michael Fox

What do you think about the Jetta being named Green Car of the Year? Share your thoughts as a comment below.

Comments

[UK Car Dealers]

The exterior design of the Volkswagen Jetta TDI is awesome though, I should say I still go for Honda Civic Hyrbrid. Not just in terms of the exterior design but as well as the interior design, nice additions to the basic feature as well as fuel efficiency.

[Linda Bremer]

I drive a Jetta TDI using chicken fat biodiesel. It is our only car and we get a routine 47 mpg highway mileage; 50mpg if the AC is not running. It's a great car and a great alternative to consider.

[Linda Bremer]

I drive a Jetta TDI using chicken fat biodiesel. It is our only car and we get a routine 47 mpg highway mileage; 50mpg if the AC is not running. It's a great car and a great alternative to consider.

[andrew macdonald]

Cars that return over 40mpg AND meet California standards through 2016 are a step in the right direction. They also exceed CAFE standards 12 years in advance of the regulation.

I think Linda has the right idea; she simplifies the conversation by suggesting we ought to focus on the smart "alternatives to consider".

Michael, yes I agree, you will likely find people who will object to the VW TDI Green Award even though it is among the most fuel efficient alternatives available to consumers today. I wonder why it makes any sense to make a villain of one of the best options available?

Lawrence Ulrich from the New York Times wrote an intriguing perspective on diesel this past Sunday. Check it out here;

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/automobiles/autoreviews/23-vw-jetta.html?pagewanted=1

One of the more interesting comments from this article is below;

"Since hybrids are the golden child in the public’s mind, talking about diesels necessitates a head-to-head comparison. But I’ve always argued that diesels and hybrids aren’t a zero-sum game. It’s possible to extol diesel’s virtues without dismissing hybrid technology, and vice-versa."

I know that VW is trying to have an authentic conversation online. They have launched a site for the discussion of diesel and clean cars at www.tdicurious.com. While corporate in nature the tone and character of the content feels quite genuine. (FYI-I drive a diesel Toyota running B50biodiesel, so no I am not a pitch man for VW :')

Consumers could use a bit of encouragement. An argument over who is the cleanest of the clean may only lead to confusion and be ultimately counter productive.

Thanks for raising the question,

Andrew

[Morgan]

While the mpg differences between the VW and the hybrids sounds significant, the gallons per mile difference is nearly insignificant.

Tail pipe emissions aside. I'd love to read in one place a life cycle discussion/analysis of the differences. I'm still leery of the long term costs & impacts of hybrids and still prefer simple solutions. I guess it's also true that the diesel under consideration is a VW product (a company not known for its worksmanship) while the hybrids are by Toyota & Honda, two companies that historically prodcued low maintenence/low impact vehicles to own. As a former repair shop owner, I can't stress enough the ecological impacts from vehicle maintenence and repair.

[Clean diesel]

Its quite good to here a new green car which includes bio diesel and which also have most efficient one where clean diesel have been used.

[cleandiesel]

clean diesel engines for the United States auto market. Ford has already introduced the F-Super Duty with its diesel engine manufactured by Navistar

[cleandiesel]

clean diesel engines for the United States auto market. Ford has already introduced the F-Super Duty with its diesel engine manufactured by Navistar

[wholesale jewelry]

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