AltFuel Blog

With gas prices rising and environmental concerns intensifying, diesel cars - with their cleaner fuel and improved engines - are coming back to California early next year.
The first will be the Volkswagen Jetta, in both sedan and wagon body styles, but many more will follow.

Expect to see diesel-powered cars from Honda, BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac, Saturn, Nissan and perhaps others by 2010.

What makes this possible? It’s the combination of low-sulfur diesel fuel, on sale nationwide since late 2006, and cleaner diesel engines with new exhaust-treatment systems that will enable automakers to produce vehicles that meet California emission standards.

What’s behind diesel’s revival? Its great energy efficiency, primarily. The Diesel Technology Forum, an industry group, says diesel engines are 20 to 40 percent more fuel-efficient than gasoline engines. VW expects the diesel Jetta to get fuel mileage in the “mid-50s highway, mid-40s city,” spokesman Keith Price said.

Despite the restrictions on selling new diesel-powered passenger cars in California and other states since 1999, sales of the vehicles have been growing nationwide.

J.D. Power & Associates forecasts that U.S. diesel sales will triple in the next decade, from 3.6 percent of the market in 2005 to more than 10 percent in 2015. Another Power study, released this month, says 23 percent of car shoppers are considering diesels, up from just 12 percent of shoppers last year.

R.L. Polk registration data shows the number of diesel cars, trucks and SUVs in the United States has grown from 301,000 in 2000 to 543,777 in 2005, up about 80 percent.

(Above excerpts taken from “Putting a Clean Face on Diesel Fuel” - article written by Matt Nauman, Mercury News 07/27/2007)

Purchase an Alt Fuel Vehicle. Recent advances in technology have made it very easy for people to drive a clean vehicle. Not only are many standard gasoline powered vehicles being made much cleaner, but hybrids and other advanced technologies are being offered in expanding model types. This means more clean options for car buyers, money saved, better warranties, and of course that little thing we call protecting the environment. http://www.driveclean.ca.gov/en/gv/home/index.asp is your guide to discovering all the advantages clean vehicles offer. You’ll find information on advances of today as well as a glimpse at future technologies. Take a look inside to see why these vehicles are raising pulses and helping people breathe easier. For Tips about buying a new or used energy efficient car visit: http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/transportation/buying_a_car/index.html.

Care for your car. Regular maintenance and tune-ups, changing the oil, and checking tire inflation can improve gas mileage, extend your car’s life, and increase its resale value. It can also reduce traffic congestion due to preventable breakdowns and it could reduce your car’s emissions by more than half.

Get fuel when it’s cool. Refueling during cooler periods of the day or in the evening can prevent gas fumes from heating up and creating ozone. And that can help reduce ozone alert days.

Don’t top off the tank. It releases gas fumes into the air, which cancels the benefits of the pump’s anti-pollution devices. So, stopping short of a full tank keeps gas off of you, is safer, and reduces pollution.

Know before you go. If your area has a travel information network, use it by visiting the web site, or tuning into the cable station. Get real time traffic congestion updates before you leave home and you won’t get stuck in a jam. Check out http://traffic.tann.net.

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The SoCal Clean Cities Monthly Newsletter represents a comprehensive look at Alternative Fuel options, technology trends related to the various uses of alternative fuels, the deployment of alternative fuel vehicles and development of refueling infrastructure within the Southern California Region. So Cal Clean Cities August Issue http://commuteone.tann.com/publicity/SoCalCleanCitiesNews8-07.htm highlights articles on Plug-in Hybrids, Regulators Adoption of Diesel-Emission Rules, Buzz over GM’s Latest Electric car, and Promoting low Carbon Fuels for California’s Energy Future to name a few.

Does “Hybrid Car” seem like the latest buzzword to you? You know it’s a good word, but don’t know much about it. We found an article “How Hybrid Cars Work” on Howstuffworks.com written by Kirim Nice, an hybrid car enthusiast.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car.htm

Hybrid Personal Income and Corporation Tax Credit (bill): As amended, AB 505 would authorize a personal income and corporation tax credit for the amount of tax paid or incurred by a taxpayer during the taxable year for a qualified vehicle, up to $500. A qualified vehicle is defined as a hybrid vehicle or an alternative fuel vehicle that meets California’s advanced technology partial zero-emission vehicle (AT PZEV) standard or a hybrid vehicle that meets California’s ultra-low emission vehicle (ULEV), super ultra-low emission vehicle (SULEV), or partial zero-emission vehicle (PZEV) standards. Introduced 02/20/07 and referred to committee.

Hybrid Truck Grants (bill): AB 1440 would require the State Air Resources Board to provide grants to medium- and heavy-duty truck manufacturers and operators to demonstrate the in-use commercial performance of hydraulic assist and hybrid electric propulsion systems in those vehicles through 01/01/11. Introduced 02/23/07 and referred to committee.

Hybrid Tax Deduction (bill): SB 308 would for taxable years beginning on and after 01/01/07 allow a $3,000 personal income tax deduction for the purchase or initial lease of a 2007 or newer model year qualified hybrid. This incentive would be repealed on 12/01/11 or when 100,000 qualified vehicles have been sold since 01/01/07. Introduced 02/16/07 and referred to committee.

For information on hybrid vehicle incentives already enacted visit: http://go.ucsusa.org/hybridcenter/incentives.cfm