[LMB] Energy efficiency

[Mark Allums]

Stewart Dean wrote:
> It is only this year that exhaust emission controls (catalytic 
> converters and the like) are finally appearing on Diesels.  As I said 
> before, they haven't been there before because when you burn high-sulfur 
> diesel, you get sulfuric acid (which is what you smell in the /current/ 
> Diesels) that would rot convertors.  I think when the new cleaner 
> diesels come out this fall, the smell and particulates will be much reduced.

The fuel is now out and has been for a while in the US; the engines are 
all brand new, and there are probably still kinks and quirks to work 
out.  They will undoubtedly have /issues/.   But if I were in the market 
to buy a new vehicle soon, that is what I would get.  I like the 
hybrids, but I think they are a transitional technology, and I am not 
quite prepared to make that particular commitment yet.

--Mark Allums