In Our Lives Dissecting Diesels By The Numbers (NAPSA)—Drivers looking for EE. a car that can offer dramatically better mileage may want to consider a vehicle with a different kindof engine. The good news is that better mileage may be available from an engine already in use—the diesel engine. Consider the following: * Diesels account for half of all new cars sold in Europe—60 percent of those sold in France and Spain alone. In the U.S., they are used in 95 percent of all emergency vehicles, such as fire engines and ambulances. * Diesels also power 60 percent of all school buses and 95 percent of all public transit buses. Part of the reason for this popularity is the fuel economy that diesels offer. Experts say that on long trips it’s often possible for a car with a diesel engine to travel nearly twice as far between refueling stops as a typical gas-powered vehicle. It’s estimated that if everyone in the U.S. drove a diesel, the country would save 45 billion gallons of fuel annually. While somecriticize diesels for what is described as slow acceler- Today’s diesel car is clean, quiet and fast. Oh, andit still gets more than 30 percent better fuel mileage than a comparable gasoline engine. cally injected diesel engines. It’s reported that this full-size luxury sedan has a realistic chance of serving up better than 30 miles to the gallon on the highway and may cruise as far as 700 miles without refueling. While even traditional diesel power plants can produce carbon dioxide emissions at a rate that’s 30 percent lower than gasolinepowered engines, they have in the past tended to produce more oxides of nitrogen andsoot. However, the new CDI—Com- ation, a new model from Mer- mon-rail Diesel Injection—electronic injection system is said to offer more precise fuel delivery. Coupled with an oxidation catalyst, this new technology has created a vehicle that can pass current emission standards in 45 states and may meet the standardsof all 50 states by 2007. ful than conventional, mechani- site at www.mbusa.com. cedes-Benz may changeall that. The new E-class diesel—the E320 CDI—features an electronic fuel injection system that is said to be cleaner, quieter and more power- To learn more, visit the Web
