Three more US states miss out on Mercedes-Benz diesels

By HECTOR #1, Posted: 8/27/2007

I fail to see how a C class bluetec can *pollute* more than a 7000 pound Escalade. Yet the Escalade and their like are very welcome in California, Massachussetts, New York and the other moronic States where diesels are almost banned.

Just more proof that the politicians and local tree huggers have poisoned society too much with the global warming mumbo jumbo...

By Gus #2, Posted: 8/28/2007

See, one of the problems here in California is that diesel is more expensive than super-unleaded at every gas station I see. No one is going to buy one (or try one) when they see that the cost per mile is less or similar with a car that runs on regular, and regular is available at every station, where diesel is not.
Until those issues are addressed, it doesn't matter that they are not allowed, they just won't sell (unless through some miracle they suddenly achieve 60 mpg in a car which would normally only get 25).

By Steve #3, Posted: 8/28/2007

Gus, while diesel may be more very expensive there, its priced around the same as mid-grade petrol here. So its benefits are well known among Jetta TDI owners who get 50 mpg +. Hector, this isn't a "liberal tree-huger thing" I'm afraid money rabid conservatives are trying to keep people in the dark about diesels. If it were a liberal thing do you really think Escalades would slide under the radar of these so-called environmental protection laws? The bluetecs are set to beat the UK co2/km standards by so much they are expected to be exempt from London's congestion charge. There is definitely something more sinister afoot. They must have found some other way to measuring emissions which allows gas-guzzlers such as 2 and 1/2 ton and up suvs to slide under the radar while 45+ mpg diesel sedans get shot down. Maybe those states have emissions standards which go by the amount of pollution per gallon of fuel used instead of distance traveled because I'm sure when compared side by side the Escalade's co2/km rating would look atrocious.

By Gus #4, Posted: 8/28/2007

Yep, and in Europe diesel is available everywhere.
In Europe I would totally drive a diesel. Better mileage, less taxes (I think), some have really decent power, especially torque, which I like. And the side benefit of not being as flammable in a crash all make them perfect.
But here it will be a while...

By Steve #5, Posted: 9/4/2007

Just want to point out Merc UK emission numbers:

194-202 CO2 g/km E320 Bluetec
224-232 CO2 g/km E280
231-244 CO2 g/km E350

By Jason #6, Posted: 3/26/2008

It's not CO2 emissions that are the problem for diesels, it's nitrous oxides (NOX) & particulate emissiions (that either deposit as grime or are absorbed into clouds and precipitate as acid rain). That's where diesel emissions are higher than those of conventional gasoline-powered vehicles.