A couple of Heavy Hitters in the auto supply industry have joined forces to promote use of diesel cars.

Link to their website.   www.cleandieseldelivers.com

 Filed under: Diesel, Legislation and Policy, USA

New alliance to promote diesel cars in the U.S.

by Xavier Navarro on Feb 5th 2009 at 8:52AM

BorgWarner and Bosch, two manufacturers of diesel components, have co-founded the U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars. This new group will promote the fuel efficiency and environmental benefits of modern diesel cars. The coalition's first announcement was to complain that gasoline is taxed at a lower rate than diesel and how this price difference hampers diesel's competitiveness. The taxes run in exactly the opposite direction in most European countries. The average gallon of U.S. diesel costs about 25 percent more than regular gasoline. Federal taxes account for 24.4 cents per gallon of diesel and 18.4 cents for each gallon of gasoline, according to the American Petroleum Institute. The new coalition also finds Federal tax breaks, like the one that is available for the VW Jetta TDI, "insufficient."

[Source: Automotive News (subs. req'd)]


PRESS RELEASE:

U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars Launches to Promote Clean Diesel Technology's Fuel Efficiency and Environmental Benefits

Group advocates adoption of technology-neutral public policies rewarding innovation and bringing immediate real world solutions to market

Washington, D.C., Jan. 28, 2009 - The U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars launched today to promote the energy efficiency and environmental benefits of clean diesel passenger vehicles in the U.S. marketplace. The Coalition will urge federal, state and local legislators and regulators to support technology-neutral public policies helping to foster energy independence, reduce CO2 emissions and create jobs in this alternative powertrain technology.

The Coalition, for which BorgWarner Inc. and Robert Bosch LLC are founding members, is the only advocacy group to champion clean diesel passenger vehicles exclusively as it relates to the advantages on fuel efficiency and emission reductions.

"One of the most effective and immediate ways to improve the environment and bolster American energy independence is for federal, state and local officials to implement technology-neutral public policies rewarding innovation and offering multiple solutions for optimizing fuel efficiency and CO2 reductions," said Jeffrey Breneman, executive director of the U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars. "Advanced clean diesel technology is ripe for adoption as it requires little modification to the existing U.S. fuel infrastructure while dramatically reducing petroleum use and CO2 emissions."

Today, clean diesel cars provide the highest fuel economy in real-world driving, performing with 30 percent better fuel economy, up to 25 percent less CO2 emissions and 50 percent better torque – an element of power allowing diesel-powered cars to accelerate faster – than a comparable gasoline vehicle.

"Despite these accepted advantages, some public policies are steering consumers, and the auto industry as a whole, into specific technologies," said Breneman.

The Coalition advocates that in order to maximize the nation's efforts to improve fuel efficiency, reduce CO2 emissions and meet the various driving habits and needs of Americans, several technology options, including clean diesel, will need to be supported in legislation.

"Granting advanced clean diesel technology the same market incentives offered to other leading automotive technologies, such as hybrid-electric, reaffirms America's commitment to fuel efficiency and inspires widespread innovation that brings a multitude of technology solutions to market," said Norman Johnson, director for external affairs, Robert Bosch LLC, a charter member of the U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars.

In anticipation of legislative efforts to conserve energy and reduce CO2 emissions, the U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars will advocate for science-based public policies and regulatory approaches.

"Ensuring a level playing field that equally supports a broad portfolio of technology solutions to tackle the serious environmental and energy dependence issues we currently face is really the only approach," said Scott Gallett, vice president of marketing, BorgWarner Inc., a charter member of the U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars. "It encourages innovation, job creation and results in options for the consumers that they want and deserve. By promoting clean diesel policies on the federal, state and local levels, the U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars will ensure the benefits of the clean diesel technology can be put to work in the U.S. market."

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The U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars is a partnership committed to promoting the energy efficiency and environmental benefits of advanced clean diesel technology for passenger vehicles in the U.S. marketplace. It is the only advocacy group dedicated exclusively to clean diesel passenger vehicles. For more information or to inquire about membership, please visit www.cleandieseldelivers.com or contact Jeff Breneman, executive director, U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars, at info @ cleandieseldelivers.com or (202) 585-6382

Tags: BorgWarner, Bosch, U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars, U.s.CoalitionForAdvancedDieselCars