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75 comments on Ultra Low Sulfur Emission Diesel

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Glenn on October 13, 2006 - 12:27pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
That's pretty impressive that they are that popular in the UK. What's the consumer trade-off in Europe between diesel and petrol?

A diesel hybrid sounds pretty good from an energy / environmental standpoint with the new low sulphur content.

I suspect our refineries have the same bias toward gasoline/petrol.

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Robert Rapier on October 15, 2006 - 10:55am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
I suspect our refineries have the same bias toward gasoline/petrol.

Our refineries are geared more toward making gasoline, but there is some flexibility. Right now, they are making as much diesel as possible because that's where the profit margins are better.

Europe encouraged diesels by putting lower taxes on diesel fuel. I wish we could do the same. It would greatly lower our fossil fuel usage due to the much higher efficiency issue. A diesel will get something like 35% more mileage per gallon of fuel than gasoline, and double the mileage of ethanol. See the first couple of paragraphs in my essay:

Biodiesel: King of Alternative Fuels

I break down some of the efficiency advantages of biodiesel, which also apply to diesel in general.

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Valuethinker on October 15, 2006 - 11:18am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Diesel now costs about 5p/ litre more than petrol (gasoline): 86.9p for petrol, 92p for diesel.

http://www.petrolprices.com/

http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/38346/story.htm

a diesel car costs about $2500 more.

http://lib.smmt.co.uk/articles/sharedfolder/Publications/ACF22CC.pdf

p11 - diesel percentage of new cars:

UK - 37%
France - 69%
Germany -42%

Hybrid cars were only 6,225 (in 2004).  Alternate Fuel Vehicles (compressed gas) declined sharply due to the end of a tax subsidy scheme.

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alistairC on October 16, 2006 - 5:20am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Diesel cars cost more, but hold their resale value better, than petrol equivalents (people expect greater longevity from the motor -- this, surely, gives a better overall energy equation over the lifetime of the car!)

The high proportion of diesels in France is price-driven. Historically, diesel was about 20% cheaper at the pump than petrol, because of lower tax -- this was originally a subsidy for truckers. The tax difference has been phased out, but diesel remains slightly cheaper (current prices : around 1.05 euros per litre diesel, 1.15 petrol)

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