A friend recently remarked that she got 55 MPG on her last (all highway) car trip in her diesel VW Jetta. I wonder what demand looks like for these?
Also, I had lunch with a marketing contractor regarding a "green" tinted startup I was considering. She recommended I offer blog/facebook badges so that people could "brand" themselves as users of the service. She used the Prius and how its instantly identifiable shape/look helps sales as an example of this benefit. One of the important factors for potential customers is that others know they're green.
Yeah, diesel used to be terrible environmentally-speaking, but now it's actually very good. They've made big improvements over the years, between engine efficiency and that low-sulfur fuel they use now. That said, they're less convenient in some respects, which is going to be a barrier whether we like it or not.
If you are interested in the true environmental benefits, then a diesel Jetta is a better car than a Prius. The Jetta is just as good as the Prius for fuel economy in real world driving, particularly if you have a significant freeway component to your normal driving. In addition, diesel drivetrains last longer, are less energy and resource intensive to build. And as a side benefit, the turbo diesel VW engines will out perform a Prius in acceleration and real-world driving. In addition, diesel engines have the most fuel flexibility to run on bio-fuels, and bio diesel is the easiest to make, positioning yourself well for future technology changes.
Diesel is not new or it revolutionary. 50% of all new passenger cars in Europe are diesels, they have been continually refined to the point where they are a quiet, powerful clean running powerplant.
The only drawback is that your neighbours and co-workers will not know you made the environmental choice, and you won't get HOV lane inclusion.
Also, I had lunch with a marketing contractor regarding a "green" tinted startup I was considering. She recommended I offer blog/facebook badges so that people could "brand" themselves as users of the service. She used the Prius and how its instantly identifiable shape/look helps sales as an example of this benefit. One of the important factors for potential customers is that others know they're green.