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Diesel cars gain traction slowly in US market
WASHINGTON — After many fits and starts, diesel cars are gaining traction in the US market, fueled largely by German carmakers including Volkswagen, which opened a plant in May in Tennessee.
Diesel auto sales in the United States revved higher this year thanks to some temporary factors, including a shortage of hybrid cars because of disruptions from the Japanese earthquake disaster.
US consumers bought an estimated 9,000 diesel cars in May, up 34 percent from a year earlier, according to the research firm Baum & Associates.
Some analysts say the long-term view is getting better as well for diesel, whose image has been tarnished by concerns about smelly cars and poor availability of diesel fuel outside the truck sector.
Diesels have been available in the US for decades, but the market pales compared to Europe where they make up around half the auto fleet.
Alan Baum of Baum & Associates said that outside the large pickup truck segment, around one percent of US cars are diesels, and that total diesel market share is expected to be around 4.5 percent this year.
By 2015, Baum expects diesel to grow to 6.0 to 6.5 percent, "with all of the growth in the smaller vehicles, meaning the one percent will grow to 2.5 or 3.0 percent."
The research firm JD Power & Associates sees the US diesel market share at 3.1 percent in 2011, and growing steadily to 7.4 percent by 2017.
Jeremy Anwyl, chief executive at the consultancy Edmunds.com , said prospects appear to be improving for diesel cars, which are cleaner and more efficient than in the past.
"The success has surprised even the manufacturers, because for many years diesel has been lagging," Anwyl said.
"If you drive these vehicles you'd never know you were driving a diesel. They drive like regular vehicles."
Anwyl said consumers looking for better fuel efficiency are giving another look to diesels -- which typically get 20 to 30 percent better fuel economy than gasoline cars -- because of a tight supply of hybrids like the Toyota Prius.
"If you're looking for a Prius there aren't any around," he said. "The tight supply means prices have shot up and that makes alternatives more appealing."
Still, he said diesels "are not cheap" and do better in the luxury segment where the cost difference is not as noticeable.
German carmaker Volkswagen is betting on diesel gaining in the US with its new plant opened in May in Tennessee, where around one in four cars produced is a diesel.
Ford Diesel Forums - News
Although efforts to introduce more diesels to the US have sputtered in the past, some things are different now, said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, a nonprofit group backed by industry.
Public transport, so extensive in and between the cities, just doesn't do it in the countryside, various internet forums advised. I must admit that after week one, while welcoming the opportunity to go where and when we like, my nerves were strung
Toby Frederick, who lives outside Cuero, stands next a well on his property pumping water that reeks of diesel fuel. A natural gas compressor station outside Cuero, one piece of the Eagle Ford buzzing with oil and gas exploration.
Sam Hires brings to Nanostellar more than 35 years of industry experience at Cummins and Ford in leading heavy-duty diesel businesses and engineering teams. During the last 16 years, as Cummins Vice President, Sam directed the Light Duty Diesel Program
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Real World Fuel Mileage #'s Ford Diesel - The Hull Truth - Boating ...
I am considering buying a 1 owner 2004 Ford F250 with the 6.0 diesel, and was wondering what real world fuel mileage would be. Current owner claims 18 highway and 12-14 towing his 30' travel trailer. I tow a 32' cc witha GMC 2500 ('03) with the 6L gasser and get about 6mpg, so the thought of getting 12-14 towing my rig excites me! Anyone on here have direct experience with these trucks and can share their mileage data? Thanks. I have a 2003 6.0 f 350 4 door with 8' bed and full cap (first year built) I was getting with the stock truck and bf goodrich 265 75 r17s 18to 20 highway, 14 town. Now I put 305 50 20's with terra grappler's and 20 inch incubus chrome rims and just changed all shocks (no lift) am getting 16 to 18 highway and still same around town 14. The bigger footprint makes it work a little harder on highway, by all means use your cruise control. I do jersey to florida two times a year. doing 80 most of the way i average close to 18.. joe He's been very lucky with his truck though apparently the first six months of production on the 6.0 did not have the EGR on it. The 6.0 has a very spotty track record. They're prone to blowing head gaskets and to replace them, you have to pull the entire cab off. Not an appealing repair. Imagine doing that on an Excursion with 6.0? That's why the Excursions with 6.0 diesels sell very cheap. Quote: He's been very lucky with his truck though apparently the first six months of production on the 6.0 did not have the EGR on it. The 6.0 has a very spotty track record. They're prone to blowing head gaskets and to replace them, you have to pull the entire cab off. Not an appealing repair. Imagine doing that on an Excursion with 6.0? That's why the Excursions with 6.0 diesels sell very cheap.
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