These diesels can play an important part in reducing tailpipe emissions, DesRosiers argues, perhaps even surpassing the benefits of hybrids.
Which is why he's surprised at how leisurely the introduction of diesel engines in non-truck applications has been. "For this technology to have a noticeable impact on greenhouse gas emissions -- and on pocketbooks, balance sheets, and fuel registers -- availability cannot be limited to a smattering of cars and trucks."
In the 2004 DesRosiers Light Vehicle Study, he says, "diesel acceptance levels were found to be far higher than their actual sales rate." About 43 percent of the respondents to this survey said they would be somewhat likely or very likely to purchase a diesel engine if it were offered on their next vehicle."
DesRosiers points to the limited success of the diesel-powered Smart from Mercedes-Benz as proof that consumers are warming to the technology, but my experience with that car is that its owners put up with the diesel so they can have the latest trendy toy.
DesRosiers, on the other hand, believes "the success of this car in the Canadian marketplace is proof-positive that our consumer public is willing to accept radicalism. At this point in time, diesel is radical."
As a result, he believes that the "major impediment to larger consumer take-up of diesel is product availability. Where are the diesel Cobalts, Civics, Accords, and Impalas? Where is the diesel Caravan?"
The majority of Canada's top-selling vehicles have been engineered to run on diesel in Europe or Asia, DesRosiers points out, so why aren't they available here?
In particular, DesRosiers believes, the "first company to market with a diesel minivan in Canada wins big."
This is an excellent question, for which I have no answer. I do know from long experience on many beautiful sunny days in many locales that the car companies are ready. Oh, and in case you didn't figure out that mystery word, we pronounce it "categories."
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In the 2004 DesRosiers Light Vehicle Study, he says, "diesel acceptance levels were found to be far higher than their actual sales rate." About 43 percent of the respondents to this survey said they would be somewhat likely or very likely to purchase a diesel engine if it were offered on their next vehicle."
DesRosiers points to the limited success of the diesel-powered Smart from Mercedes-Benz as proof that consumers are warming to the technology, but my experience with that car is that its owners put up with the diesel so they can have the latest trendy toy.
DesRosiers, on the other hand, believes "the success of this car in the Canadian marketplace is proof-positive that our consumer public is willing to accept radicalism. At this point in time, diesel is radical."
As a result, he believes that the "major impediment to larger consumer take-up of diesel is product availability. Where are the diesel Cobalts, Civics, Accords, and Impalas? Where is the diesel Caravan?"
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In particular, DesRosiers believes, the "first company to market with a diesel minivan in Canada wins big."
This is an excellent question, for which I have no answer. I do know from long experience on many beautiful sunny days in many locales that the car companies are ready. Oh, and in case you didn't figure out that mystery word, we pronounce it "categories."