Mercedes Benz Diesel Cars

Mercedes Benz Diesel Cars Clean Diesel

2006-12-04T20:15:00.000-08:00

Mercedes Benz Diesel Cars
Clean Diesel: The End of Clink! Clatter!! Clash!!! Smelly! Smokey!!
PHOTO (select to view enlarged photo)

By Marty Bernstein

AIADA Contributing Editor

American’s look to Europe for many things – wine, food, fashion and, of course, automobiles – to name just a few. But one European automotive tradition has not made the journey to our shores: diesel engines for passenger vehicles.

Big, smoke belching 18 wheelers and heavy duty trucks? Yes. Cars? No! At least not yet, but wait … there’s more, much more automotive retailers need to know about what their showrooms will sell and their service areas will repair and service in the near future.

Diesel cars have not sold especially well in the U.S., except to the very, very environmentally concerned. R.L. Polk, a leading data compiler has noted sales of diesel vehicles are up some 40 percent to 543,777 units, but that only amounts to 3.4 percent of all cars sold in America. J.D. Powers and Associates is predicting diesel sales may triple to 10 percent by 2015.

There is a persistent disease in the U.S., known to the automotive psychological experts as “diesel knowledge deficiency.” It is a disease, which I hope to argue has severely disenfranchised the American consumer of high quality and ultra performance automobiles.

So, what’s the big deal about diesels?

Perhaps surprisingly to some, diesel engines, while invented and patented in 1892 by Rudolf Diesel, were not used in passenger vehicles until 1936 when Mercedes-Benz introduced the 260D, the world’s first production diesel car. Until then, diesel engines – which were big, bulky and difficult to start in cold weather – were used in heavy trucks, steamships, freighters and similar equipment.

After the war, technological improvements and innovations were added to the diesel by Mercedes and in the 1970’s large volume production of diesel-powered passenger cars commenced. Today, more than 50 percent of all vehicles sold in Europe are diesel-powered. Over half! In the U.S, just 3.4 percent.

Basic question: what makes a diesel different from the engine under the hood of most cars and light trucks in the America today?

Without resorting to a lot of tech-talk or a lengthy and possibly boring statement, it will suffice to say the diesel gets power faster without an electric sparkplug – it uses compression to ignite the fuel – and, thus, does not require a fuel with a high ignite or combustion factor. Admittedly, that is over-simplification, but when reviewed by a Mercedes-Benz person I was reassured, “That is accurate.” In fact, diesel engines are so flexible they can run on vegetable oil. If you don’t believe me, check out this video featuring movie diva Daryl Hannah who only drives biodiesel. For those who want a more comprehensive and understandable explanation and demonstration visit www.howthingswork.com or click here for a complete demonstration of how diesel engines work.

Generally, diesel engines are more effective, efficient, economical and, eventually, environmentally acceptable than the more familiar internal combustion engine. They get 20 to 30 percent better fuel economy, which results in roughly a 20 to 30 percent reduction in the emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (C02) and hydrocarbon gases.

Mercedes Benz Diesel Cars

Mercedes Benz Diesel Cars

2006-09-12T00:09:00.000-07:00

Mercedes Benz Diesel Cars

Mercedes Blue: New Diesels Miss the Mark by Matthew C. Keegan

Mercedes is feeling a little bit blue lately, but who can blame them? California, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine say that their new generation of BLUETEC diesel aspirated engines don't do enough to reduce harmful pollutants. Effectively, 20 percent of the market will be shut out when these new models debut over the coming months.

Mercedes-Benz has long been an expert builder of diesel engines, producing hundreds of thousands of the alternate-fuel driven power plants every year. Indeed, in Europe alone, a significant portion of the vehicles destined for continental homes are diesel aspirated models. In the U.S., however, Mercedes is having a bit of a problem with its line of diesel engines as more stringent emission control standards makes the marketing of diesel powered cars more difficult. Starting this fall Mercedes will be introducing its all new E320 Bluetec diesel powered car that meets EPA standards; unfortunately, five states will not permit the sale of these models leaving parent DaimlerChrysler feeling a little bit blue.

You have to hand it to Mercedes and to other automakers that are trying to produce fuel efficient cars but are facing increasingly more difficult emissions restrictions in the U.S. It is one thing when the Environmental Protection Agency {EPA} raises pollution standards, but a whole 'nuther thing when individual states seek to raise that standard higher. California, for instance, has long stood on its own requiring automakers to produce cars that met pollution standards that are tougher than the other 49 states' requirements. Recently, New York, Vermont, Maine, and Massachusetts joined in and now require the same tough standards as the Golden State.

In effect the new standards mean that nearly 1 in 5 motorists will not be able to buy a diesel powered Mercedes and not because they cannot afford one but because their state government told them that the cars cannot be sold in their state.

Of course, there isn't anything wrong with tough emissions controls. However, in light of very high fuel prices are we closing the door on potential fuel savings all in the name for a slight reduction in emissions? As a country of states' rights, the five states can supersede federal emissions requirements. Nevertheless, each state already taxes their citizens greatly and the additional imposition on them doesn't seem to be quite fair.

Although Mercedes is affected by these requirements they aren't alone. In fact, Mercedes powered diesel engines are some of the most advanced engines in the world. If Mercedes can't meet stringent U.S. emissions standards then there is virtually no hope that others will be able to do so either.

As much as the new diesel requirements are tough, they are causing engine manufacturers to study ways to further reduce emissions. Volkswagen, Navistar, Cummins, and others who build diesel engines are continuing with research to find ways to eliminate more pollutants. Perhaps the answer is for leading diesel manufacturers to work together to resolve a problem that could be too expensive to resolve on their own. If they don't then Mercedes will not be the only automaker crying the blues.

About the Author

Mercedes Benz Diesel Cars

Mercedes Benz Diesel Cars

2006-08-18T00:51:00.000-07:00

Mercedes Benz Diesel Cars
There is nothing like a Mercedes Benz and there is nothing else like a Mercedes Benz Diesel cars Diesel engine. You get the best of both worlds. You can travel in style and get great MPG. Fuel efficiency is getting more inportant these days. There should be more diesel cars for that reason. Diesel engines also tend to last longer. The greater cost for a car with a diesel engine is more than made up with fuel efficiency and longevity.
Mercedes Benz Diesel Cars