No BlueTec for 5 states

[Drew Dowdell]

Edmunds

STUTTGART, Germany — The soon-to-be-launched and much-hyped Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec has reportedly failed to meet emissions criteria in the important states of California, Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont.

Mercedes said its E320 CDI was "the cleanest diesel vehicle in the world," but apparently not clean enough for U.S. regulators.

Despite their popularity in Europe, diesels have never been commonplace in the United States and have a reputation as a technology for big rigs only. But there's a more ecological explanation for the lukewarm reception. Diesel is actually more harmful to the environment than gasoline because it generates more nitrogen oxides (NOx), gases that play a major role in the formation of acid rain and haze.

It is no wonder, then, that many U.S. states impose strict emissions levels for diesel-powered vehicles. European regulators in turn have begun to demand "NOx traps" for diesel vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz tried to tackle the problem by utilizing a catalytic device that converts NOx to nitrogen. Its Bluetec system, introduced in the Vision GL320 concept shown at the North American International Auto Show in January, injects an aqueous urea fluid called AdBlue into the exhaust system. AdBlue is intended to separate NOx into hydrogen and water.

Despite the setback in the United States, Mercedes has already been using Bluetec-equipped commercial vehicles for some time, and it plans to offer Bluetec-equipped cars in Europe by 2008.

What this means to you: Diesel is more frugal, but presents unique emissions problems for engineers. Sooner or later, it's got to work — Mercedes isn't the only one desperate to get modern diesels, so popular in Europe, into the U.S.

[regfootball]

THE 'special interest groups' in THOSE states rigged it and made it so no diesel ever passes. There are certain types of people and certain political affiliations that do not want diesel to ever get an inroads here.

California, Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont.

A bunch of states that think they are above everyone else. The govt ought to pull transportation and road funding from any state that chooses to deviate from national emissions, fuel economy, crash safety, or engineering standards. Any state that wants to 'go its own' ought to be left high on dry on funding then.

'Being different' serves no masters. The rest of the country pays.

Edited September 5, 2006 by regfootball

[FAPTurbo]

'ers. Leave it to eco-nuts to hold back environmental and ecological progress.

[pow]

THE 'special interest groups' in THOSE states rigged it and made it so no diesel ever passes.  There are certain types of people and certain political affiliations that do not want diesel to ever get an inroads here.

California, Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont.

A bunch of states that think they are above everyone else.  The govt ought to pull transportation and road funding from any state that chooses to deviate from national emissions, fuel economy, crash safety, or engineering standards.  Any state that wants to 'go its own' ought to be left high on dry on funding then.

'Being different' serves no masters.  The rest of the country pays.

189629[/snapback]

???

All other 45 states still get the diesel...

[pow]

And anyway, the question is whether or not BlueTec diesels are clean enough, or is it because the EPA doesn't recognize the technology. I believe one concern is whether or not people will refill AdBlue.

edit: Following a Duramax Silverado today and its trail of black smoke, I'm glad the '07 emissions requirements exist. Fuel economy/CO2 restrictions limits are debatable (global warming), but localized pollution aren't. I still remember the "smog days" at school when we had to stay indoors... that sucked.

Edited September 5, 2006 by empowah

[toyoguy]

hopefully this technology becomes adopted on big rigs.

[OshKoshBerJosh]

I'm all for stringent emissions standards and applaud those states that have taken a proactive approach in reducing harmful emissions.

[regfootball]

???

All other 45 states still get the diesel...

189722[/snapback]

its useless to buy a car and not be bale to drive it in CA or NY. DCX should sue for this action limiting interstate trade.

[regfootball]

hopefully this technology becomes adopted on big rigs.

189922[/snapback]

which is where the rebel states ought ot be turning their efforts to.

[RJB]

Make a regulation across the board for every state that is equal instead of these certain states saying, no we have our own regulations. That way these car makers have a goal that is attainable.

[FAPTurbo]

Make a regulation across the board for every state that is equal instead of these certain states saying, no we have our own regulations. That way these car makers have a goal that is attainable.

189970[/snapback]

That requires quite a bit of centralization doesn't it?

Up here in Canada, our system is quite a bit different in that the Fed's control a good portion of our policies, including the environment.

I suppose if we didn't have a system like we do now, Quebec would make enviro laws comparable to California just to piss the rest of our country off.

[pow]

its useless to buy a car and not be bale to drive it in CA or NY.  DCX should sue for this action limiting interstate trade.

189960[/snapback]

Now you're just making stuff up.

I could buy a ML320 CDI right now in Vegas, drive it around in CA, and re-register it once it reaches 7,000 miles.

Edited September 6, 2006 by empowah

[The O.C.]

Benz has to be pissed....! Although I'm sure they will have no problem meeting production now that I think about it....

(California being their #1 volume market....with the top 2 or 3 volume Benz stores located in Southern California.....)

[Drew Dowdell]

We need a single, national, standard for both fuel blends and emissions.

Having 48 different blends of fuel for 50 states isn't a very efficient way to do business.

We have federal standards for headlights and crash worthiness, why not fuel and emissions?

What's to stop California from demanding that drivers suffer no injuries in impacts of 50mph or lower in all situations?

Edited September 7, 2006 by Oldsmoboi

[regfootball]

We need a single, national, standard for both fuel blends and emissions.

Having 48 different blends of fuel for 50 states isn't a very efficient way to do business.

We have federal standards for headlights and crash worthiness, why not fuel and emissions?

What's to stop California from demanding that drivers suffer no injuries in impacts of 50mph or lower in all situations?

190574[/snapback]

^

just remember, Californians are dumb enough to pay 1000 bucks a square foot for a crappy condo, too. a species not fully grounded in logic.

Edited September 7, 2006 by regfootball

[pow]

^

just remember, Californians are dumb enough to pay 1000 bucks a square foot for a crappy condo, too.  a species not fully grounded in logic.

190596[/snapback]

-ing tonight?

[RJB]

We need a single, national, standard for both fuel blends and emissions.

Having 48 different blends of fuel for 50 states isn't a very efficient way to do business.

We have federal standards for headlights and crash worthiness, why not fuel and emissions?

What's to stop California from demanding that drivers suffer no injuries in impacts of 50mph or lower in all situations?

190574[/snapback]

Thats right on the money!!

[regfootball]

-ing tonight?

190841[/snapback]

hell no, I'm celebrating. I love that I work for a company that can extract many many many excessive dollars from your state and pay my salary.

I'm actually grateful! although it defies logic, the escalation of prices out there.

[The O.C.]

I'm actually grateful! although it defies logic, the escalation of prices out there.

190964[/snapback]

Hmmmm.....well, we might have our share of challenges......but concerning the "escalation of prices....."

Los Angeles is a Pacific Rim metropolis......an economic powerhouse......the home of our entertainment and television industry......places like Orange County even are enjoying a booming economy.....a diversified economy at that.....(it wasn't always) and southern California is even one of the largest manufacturing bases in our country.

Tourism.....people from all over the world travel to southern California to vacation. It's a destination. It's got some of the best weather in the country. It's geographically beautiful (palm trees, mountains, ocean, beaches, tropical landscaping.) You can snow ski and lay out on the beach on the same day in the winter.

California is the 7th largest economy in the WORLD.

End result.....it's not perfect....and not the best place in the country to live for everyone....but in the end, it remains a HUGELY desirable place for a great many people to live and call home......either because they love California, or they have a prosperous job that has brought them here.

THAT'S why you see prices so out of sight in this state. It doesn't really defy logic....it actually seems QUITE logical.

[regfootball]

I hope it remains a 'logical' thought when the bust comes

in the meantime, thanks for your business!

Edited September 8, 2006 by regfootball