http://www.wired.com/news/technology/autotech/0,71192-0.html?tw=rss.index

This article explains the current state of affairs around diesel automobiles in the U.S. What it doesn't explain is why our government is making these new stifling regulations for diesels, at a time when they seemed poised to make a comeback.

I am all for emissions reduction, but I can't help but feel there is something more behind the diesel regulations. The article mentions that there are no domestic automakers producing diesel cars (just VW and Mercedes), and Chrysler is the only U.S. brand that offers a diesel that isn't packaged in a huge pickup truck. I'm sure they are correct about the domestic car companies not wanting to retool factories-- with the money they are losing right now I'm sure they are reluctant to invest in a technology that they have never been able to master.

So call me a conspiracy theorist, but I suspect the big three may somehow involved in the new diesel restrictions. It does seem rather helpful for them, does it not? Diesel sales have been ramping up in recent years, and the European diesel masters could have [had] a good opportunity to break into the U.S. market, or increase their current sales. Stifiling growing diesel adoption by introducing increasingly restrictive emissions specifically on diesels does seem a good way to keep the status quo.

Posted by ra at 23:09 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

...has to be the the jardin du luxembourg. Next time you are in Paris (and I think everyone should go) you should make it a point to wonder around the jardin and take it in. (Jardin is the french word for park in this context)

Posted by ra at 23:02 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)