Why Do Americans Not Drive Diesels?
25th May 2015
So why would more Americans not drive diesels? From the European perspective, it would suit the driving style of the States perfectly, with lots of relaxed muscle available at low rpms to cruise vast interstate networks that are the envy of the world. Better mileage means fewer fill-ups, and the on-paper improvements in fuel economy would, overnight, take the US fleet one massive step toward President Obama’s targeted 54.5 mpg national average by 2025. Simply stated, diesel should “work” in the US.
1. Diesel fuel is sufficiently more expensive than gasoline that the added mileage doesn’t save you anything.
But with more diesel purchasers, the laws of the marketplace would kick in, bringing prices into greater alignment.
Fine. You first. I knew an early adopter once. He died.
2. Gasoline is everywhere, diesel not so much.
Ask me a hard one.
May 25th, 2015 at 16:41
Having worked in a refinery, I can tell you that it’s easier to make diesel than gasoline. Also, if you end up having to go to “renewable” fuels, it’s a LOT easier to make biodiesel than to make gasoline (essentially ethanol, an extremely wasteful process that we only do now to drive up corn prices). Diesel engines will operate for more miles than the average gasoline engine. THAT upsets the Detroit “Drive it ’till the ashtray is full and melt it down” philosophy.
A friend that works for Ford tells me that the workers have bugged management about why they don’t market their highly successful diesel car in the US. The answer they’ve been given is that there aren’t many places to get diesel except for truck stops. That is of course ridiculous as every gas station I go to has diesel – usually on the same pumps as gasoline.
Oh, did I fail to mention that Washington doesn’t support diesel? It’s just not as “sexy” as hybrids and electric cars. Why would that affect the decision on what cars you market? Government money. Well, my money and yours, but given away lavishly for projects that the liberals find sexy. Toyota loses money on every Prius they sell, yet they sell lots and lots of them. How can they do that? Follow the money…. right back to Washington.