Types of Diesel Cars
Rudolf Diesel patented an internal combustion engine in 1892. Five years later, he produced a four stroke, 25-horsepower, single vertical cylinder engine, but it took another 13 years for the compression engine called the Diesel to be perfected.
Compress air in a cylinder and it gets hotter. Inject fuel into the cylinder and the hot gas will burn. The expanding gases drive the pistons. This highly efficient, revolutionary design now powers more than half the passenger cars in Europe.
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Engines
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Diesel engines, in two- and four-stroke versions, have been used in cars since the 1930s. Although they have been slow to catch on in the U.S., they are popular in the rest of the world for their efficiency.
Many diesel cars and trucks can go 300,000 miles (480,000 kilometres) before needing an overhaul.
The U.S. Market
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The U.S. market didn't warm up to diesel passenger cars until the 21st century. While Mercedes marketed luxury sedans here, most manufacturers found lukewarm sales, with a few exceptions like the Dodge Cummins diesel.
The advent of ultra low sulfur diesel and modern diesel engines similar in power to V8 gas engines changed that. Volkswagen markets turbodiesel Jettas, Golfs, Eos, New Beetles, Quantums, Foxes, Touregs and Passats.
Ford, GM, Honda, Subaru, Audi, BMW, Nissan, Toyota and Honda marketed diesel cars in 2008 to 2009. -
Foreign Cars
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Diesel cars are popular in Europe, Japan, India, Australia and Africa. Manufacturers have improved the engine's designs, like the multijet fuel injection used in the Fiat Palio, Maruti Suzuki Swift Diesel and Swift Dzire.
Volkswagen's turbocharged direct injection (TDI) engine boosted performance and lowered emissions. Led by Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz, Fiat, Citroen, Peugeot and Alfa Romeo produce diesel cars because the engines are quiet, clean smelling and highly efficient.
In Canada, Daimler's Smart car has a diesel engine.
Green Diesels
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Diesels combine low emissions with high fuel efficiency and can be made on the same lines as gasoline engines, earning them the name "green diesels."
The new super diesels include Volkswagen's 80 mpg aluminum-bodied Lupo. Ford and the U.S. Department of Energy cooperated on a super direct injection diesel family car called the P2000 which got a reputed 63 highway mpg. Hybrid diesel/electric models like the Ford Synergy 2010 are on the market.
The Polo, Passat, Golf and Touran, SEAT Ibiza and Leon and Skoda Fabia and Superb are super fuel efficient/low emission cars marketed by Volkswagen as BlueTec.
More Changes
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New passenger car models have improved engine designs including direct fuel injection, natural aspiration and turbocharging, which boosts power.
Turbodiesel cars began winning on Formula One racetracks in 2006, changing the reputation of diesels as slow.
Diesel engines can run on some biodiesel (vegetable oil), making them increasingly attractive to the growing alternative fuel market.
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References
- Photo Credit Photo of BMW diesel by storem: Flickr.com; photo of diesel engine by Alan_D: Flickr.com
