MB Bluetec not so blue, err... green

[iateyourcheese]

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=116694

The soon-to-be-launched and much-hyped Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec has reportedly failed to meet emissions criteria in the important states of California, Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont.

Mercedes said its E320 CDI was "the cleanest diesel vehicle in the world," but apparently not clean enough for U.S. regulators.

Despite their popularity in Europe, diesels have never been commonplace in the United States and have a reputation as a technology for big rigs only. But there's a more ecological explanation for the lukewarm reception. Diesel is actually more harmful to the environment than gasoline because it generates more nitrogen oxides (NOx), gases that play a major role in the formation of acid rain and haze.

MB should ditch the project and sell the cars for $100 to anyone in a more lenient state, say Missouri. :eeps:

[IndyMike]

"Diesel is actually more harmful to the environment than gasoline because it generates more nitrogen oxides (NOx), gases that play a major role in the formation of acid rain and haze."

Not to get (too) political, but isn't it a bit hypocritical in that Europe continually beats the U.S. up because we won't join in on their collective take on how to best attack the (purported) threat to the ozone layer, yet they have no issue spewing this diesel gunk into the atmosphere that forms acid rain and (purple) haze that goes who knows where?

[Terry Kennedy]

Not to get (too) political, but isn't it a bit hypocritical in that Europe continually beats the U.S. up because we won't join in on their collective take on how to best attack the (purported) threat to the ozone layer, yet they have no issue spewing this diesel gunk into the atmosphere that forms acid rain and (purple) haze that goes who knows where?I believe European diesel fuel is already low-sulfur / low-NOx-emission, while the US isn't (yet). USA Today had an article yesterday on diesel prices remaining high due to concerns about reformulation. Also, at a flex-fuel station that offered low-sulfur diesel fuel, there were signs saying to check with your vehicle manufacturer before using this fuel if you had a pre-2007 vehicle.

[Plaz]

"Diesel is actually more harmful to the environment than gasoline because it generates more nitrogen oxides (NOx), gases that play a major role in the formation of acid rain and haze."

Not to get (too) political, but isn't it a bit hypocritical in that Europe continually beats the U.S. up because we won't join in on their collective take on how to best attack the (purported) threat to the ozone layer, yet they have no issue spewing this diesel gunk into the atmosphere that forms acid rain and (purple) haze that goes who knows where?

Ozone layer? Do you mean global warming? The CFC/ozone issue was settled in the late 70s, to the best of my knowledge. :dunno:

[Rob]

The acceptance of the "new" deisels has always been predicated on low sulfer diesel, which is not available here yet. This result might be a surprise to the author of that article, but it's no surprise to MB.

Iirc, diesel exhaust will be better than gasoline exhuast from an environmental standpoint when the new fuel standards take effect. The issue will be particulate emissions. But I don't remember where I read that, so I can't back it up.

[IndyMike]

I believe European diesel fuel is already low-sulfur / low-NOx-emission, while the US isn't (yet). USA Today had an article yesterday on diesel prices remaining high due to concerns about reformulation. Also, at a flex-fuel station that offered low-sulfur diesel fuel, there were signs saying to check with your vehicle manufacturer before using this fuel if you had a pre-2007 vehicle.
The body of the article by itself doesn't really make the distinction whether we are talking about the current US supplied product or the new and improved version being used in Europe. But if you look at the link to the article on the 2007 E320 CDI (which I didn't do before posting above) you would have to imply that the gee-whiz neato converter BlueTec with AdBlue on the E320 set to go on sale this year in the US would be operating under the current US diesel product.

Do you mean global warming? Yeah, that’s what I mean.

The CFC/ozone issue was settled in the late 70s, to the best of my knowledge. :dunno:
I think everyone agrees that there is an impact, but I don’t think there’s universal agreement about the magnitude of the problem nor the best future collective course to ameliorate the condition.