I received an e-mail from
'Dr. George' J. Molteni asking about how the low sulfur diesel that is now at gas stations affects the fuel economy.
Here is the answer, according to a report from the DOE's Energy Information Administration:
"Conversion efficiencies will improve so that the overall loss of fuel economy will be only 2 percent: 1 percent for the fuel-rich cycle and 1 percent for pumping losses."
That's a small price to pay for cleaner air.
Here on the left coast, diesel fuel is becoming much cheaper than gasoline, so the 2008 diesel vehicles from VW and others should be very attractive to prospective buyers. With greater fuel efficiency and now clean fuel, there's no reason not to consider a diesel if there is a model that meets your needs.
If you happen to own an old VW diesel, you have until theend of this month to register your car with VW, which is running a contest to identify the oldest cars on the road.
Source: EIA
