Diesel, Fuel Cells Get Spotlight as Plug-Ins Lose Favor

[Purveyor]

By Angela Greiling Keane - Nov 11, 2013

With U.S. sales of plug-in electric vehicles on pace to reach half of President Barack Obama’s goal, regulators are following customers and automakers to vehicles powered by other fuels, from hydrogen to diesel.

California, which leads 10 states that require automakers to sell zero-emission vehicles, may alter its system of tradable credits to stop favoring plug-ins over hydrogen-powered cars. That would hurt Tesla Motors Inc. while helping Honda Motor Co.

Obama, who touted electric cars in his first State of the Union address and gave $5 billion in U.S. loans, grants and tax breaks to spur their development, hasn’t mentioned them in public since July. His administration halted loans for their development and reversed moves to de-emphasize fuel cells.

“I don’t think they should just pick technologies that they say or feel may be better,” Audi of America President Scott Keogh, who’s seeking more favorable regulatory treatment for clean diesel, said in an interview.

Automakers that sell vehicles in the U.S. must double their vehicles’ average fuel economy by 2025 under rules Obama adopted. The target is considered impossible to achieve just by improving the gasoline engine.

MORE...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-11/diesels-to-fuel-cells-join-spotlight-dimming-on-plug-ins-cars.html

[TreasonousBastard]

1. I like the idea of diesels, but...

around here the diesel version of a Passat or Cruze will set you back around 5 grand more. Then, around here regular gas is about $3.40 while diesel is $3.80 to four bucks a gallon. You will save fuel and carbon whatsises, but it will take a long time for any financial payback-- if there is any at all.

Why not put a wee diesel in a hybrid?

[PumpkinAle]

2. Would like an electric car

but they are too expensive and not enough charging stations where I live.

What is needed is more education on electric vehicles - people are starting to realize that they really don't do the long journeys they think and they will have ample mileage on a charge to get around they will be more inclined to buy.