The Dieselization of Europe

[Dogmudgeon]

A well-maintained diesel engine is usually better, from an environmental point of view, than a standard gasoline engine. And many of them can be easily retrofitted to burn biodiesel or even SVO (straight vegetable oil).

The Dieselization of Europe

Diesel demand in Germany, France and the UK is expected to rise 2.2% in 2007 to 20,676,000 mt, according to International Energy Agency data analysed by Platts, as Europe trends towards diesel powered transportation.

...

Germany, the second largest consumer will have 7,521,000 mt of demand in 2007 averaging 626.7kt a month, a 3.4% build from 2006 and the UK will have 5,321,000 mt of demand in 2007, up 2.38% from 2006.

Europe has been moving towards a majority diesel fleet since the European Commission encouraged lower taxes on diesel fuel to encourage its spread at the pump.

...

It is the first time that more diesel powered cars were sold than gasoline powered cars.

--p!

[Dead_Parrot]

1. I've come across quite a few sites...

...that suggest you can use a mix of veg and diesel without any conversion: just mix the two together and stick them in your tank. It's on my list of things to try, but I'd be fascinated to hear if anyone here has any experience in it.

[John Q. Citizen]

2. all modern diesel engines are ready to run on biodiesel. Even in the US.

[jody]

3. I had a 1981 VW Rabbit diesel that got 52 mpg on the interstate. A hail storm totaled it at 155K. nt

[madrchsod]

4. my daughter works for a firm

that has a large german auto manufacturer contract for sub assemblies for turbocharges. europe is moving away from gasoline. honda is also going to diesel in their larger cars

[kestrel91316]

5. I rented a little diesel Opal 4-dr sedan when I went to France in 2001.

I bought Gasohol for it (yes, that was okay to do). Even at their "high" prices I figured it only cost me $30 US to drive it all over Provence for a week.

Diesels get great mileage. Biodiesel, especially in Europe where distances are so short compared to the US, makes a lot of sense there to me. And if they can get a biodiesel-electric hybrid, then they're REALLY talkin'.