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Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 01:35:54 -0500
From: "Walt Kienzle" <wkienzlenopsam.net>
Subject: Re: GM to increase SAAB lineup


"Abdallah" <abdallahjamalnopsamAMnopsam.ca> wrote in message news:26Mma.129426$vs.13762690nopsam3.calgary.shaw.ca... > : > It seems that from all the developed countries the US seems to care > : > the less for the environment. > : > : I wouldn't go that far. Petrolium companies aren't reacting to the auto > : manufacturers requests for better diesel fuel. If a group of average > : citizens were to request it, something more might happen. But very few > : people have an interest in diesel passenger cars, so its not much of an > : issue and nobody cares. > <clip> > > isn't that what mark said? No, it isn't. He claimed that the US seems to care less for the environment, even though we have a history of pioneering technology to reduce auto pollution. Cars sold in the US required emission control equipment beginning around 1966, and cars sold in California started even before that. The catalytic converter, a major tool in reducing auto air pollution, was invented in the US to meet then stringent emissions regulations and were made manditory on cars in the US in 1975. Europe lagged behind in mandating the catalyst. IIRC, Germany didn't have a catalyst requirement until the 1990's, and then only because their other choice was to limit Autobahn speeds. Germans didn't want that (I can't blame them for that); in the most of the US we have always had limited highway speeds. For much of the past 30 years, we were limited to speeds around 90 km/hr as a fuel saving measure from the early 1970's. Even with the higher speed limits today, most highways are limited to under 110 km/hr and some are still at 90 km/hr. My claim was that the public and petrolium companies don't care about the quality of diesel fuel. The part I wrote that you clipped went on to emphasize the point that the public has no motiviation for this because the market is too small for enough people to be involved in the issue. > > i think the issue is why, when evidence points them clearly in the direction > of the cause of pollution in the environment, the big petroleum producers > don't take action, just for the good of mother earth, and if it means > pricier diesel for the commercial vehicle segment, then so be it. just > because the passenger car consumer isn't interested in diesel cars shouldn't > let the petro producers off the hook (or should it?) How can you jump to the conclusion that there is any evidence (clear or otherwise) of the cause of any pollution? Vehicles sold in the US must comply with pollution standards. Commercial vehicles (and all vehicles) sold in the US have the appropriate equipment to keep pollution levels below the standards set for them no matter what quality of fuel is used. Instead of putting the responsibility on the petrolium companies who make products that vary with each batch, the responsibility for pollution control is put on the vehicle manufacturers, and they must design systems well enough to ensure that pollution levels remain in compliance for the expected life of the vehicle, without exception. Vehicles that have systems that are found to be faulty - even though they are not yet emitting pollution levels above the set standards - are subject to recall and correction by the manufacturer at their expense (a car I had participated in one of these recalls long after the warranty had ended). Sure, if we had diesel fuel that was of the same type offered in Europe, we could have more Euorpean diesel cars and diesel engines to select because they would pass our emissions standards. Having a selection diesel engines isn't important to enough people here. So, changing the quality of diesel fuel is not important. That was my point. I see that you didn't even address my comment about two of the three big petrolium producers in the US (BP, Shell) that make this "polluting" diesel are under British control. If you are correct about us not caring about pollution, do you think it is a plot of the Brits to gas us with the exhaust from their noxious fuel? > > abdallah > >

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