Kickstarting "Clean Diesel"
Many of Europe's top automotive brands have long been pushing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to allow the new common-rail "clean diesel" technology, which has become so prevalent in Europe, to enter the American market. But the EPA has always been skeptical about the technology, particularly because it requires the consumer to occasionally add a chemical mixture to the vehicle in order to facilitate the special catalysts that make the technology work. Now, in a decision that came at the end of March, the EPA made a move that, it says, "helps pave the way for putting more innovative and fuel-efficient 'clean diesel' cars and trucks on America's roads."

Will Consumers Accept Diesels?
Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Honda are all poised to introduce diesel-powered passenger cars to the United States. With higher Corporate Average Fuel Economy targets from the U.S. Federal Government looming in coming years, all of these companies want to bring to bear the diesel engine's inherent efficiency -- efficiency that could mark a significant decrease in our use of fossil fuel and a significant increase in the car companies' ability to hit the mandated fuel economy targets.