Are diesel engines starting to make an impact in the US? Yes, says specialist supplier Bosch which reckons its penetration will more than triple to 10% of the market by 2015.
Peter Marks, chairman, president and CEO of Robert Bosch LLC, told the Automotive Press Association in the US the rise would be fuelled as North American and Asia manufacturers supply the market.
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Carmakers will also have to reorganise their model lines to meet the federally mandated fleet average of 35.5mpg by 2016.
Currently, most of the 20 light vehicle models available in the US with modern clean-diesel engines are European, led by VW with cars such as the Jetta and Passat.
Marks said: “We are continuing to innovate and believe that diesel passenger cars of the future will run even more efficiently. So much so that a diesel-powered car in 2015 could exceed 54mpg.”
Less than two years ago, the future for diesel in the US was in question over fears the California Air Resources Board would legislate diesels out of the market with next-generation LEV III emissions standards which take effect in 2016.
Diesels emit higher levels of oxides of nitrogen and hydrocarbons and early indications from CARB suggested extreme limits for such emissions were in the works and that the regulations heavily would favour electric vehicles.
WardsAuto.com noted that talks between CARB, the automotive industry and the US Environmental Protection Agency had been positive and the final decision from CARB regarding LEV III is due in November.
Marks warned that the industry cannot coast its way to meeting LEV III which is slated to phase in by the end of 2025. “It’s still a very challenging goal from a technical perspective. There’s still a lot of engineering brainpower to go into that to come up with the necessary solutions, but we are very optimistic we can meet those.”
