Diesel Smart?

[Okiesmrt]

Originally Posted by John_H

When you fill up with hydrogen, does the car get lighter?

No silly! Even if it was helium it wouldn't make a significant difference.

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by BigWarpGuy

How about a bio-diesel Smart?

There was an article in yesterday's WSJ indicating that the U.S. bio-diesel industry is dying - low demand, and the slowness/reluctance of the EPA to do the necessary rule-changing to make it viable.** The article went on to say that the ethanol industry is also hurting bad, but will survive due to Congress' support and subsidization and mandatory usage.

** It is the EPA that sets the circumstances that excludes small diesels in small cars.

[Mike Hannah]

Originally Posted by Old smart

There was an article in yesterday's WSJ indicating that the U.S. bio-diesel industry is dying - low demand, and the slowness/reluctance of the EPA to do the necessary rule-changing to make it viable.** The article went on to say that the ethanol industry is also hurting bad, but will survive due to Congress' support and subsidization and mandatory usage.

** It is the EPA that sets the circumstances that excludes small diesels in small cars.

Why on earth would someone want to exclude small diesels? Think of the fuel they save.

[Okiesmrt]

Originally Posted by Mike Hannah

Why on earth would someone want to exclude small diesels? Think of the fuel they save.

They weigh and cost double or triple what a gas engine does. With high diesel prices the demand is currently low. Diesel pickups are cheap and plentiful here in OK because of low demand.

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by Mike Hannah

Why on earth would someone want to exclude small diesels? Think of the fuel they save.

It is another one of those "unintended consequence" things.

EPA approves two emissions systems that can satisfy their current rules - the "wet," aqueous urea system that requires a quite large vehicle to carry all of the necessary hardware and liquid, and the "dry," NOx-Trap system that requires the exhaust heat of a 2-liter-plus engine to operate it.

[smarticus]

Diesel engines do not always cost or have double the weight of the gas version. We're not talking industrial truck engines for the smart. Wild guess, I doubt the smart diesel has a 40 lb. weight penalty to it. Look at the new diesels from BMW or Honda,...they put out massive torque for their displacement and outperform most everything in their class. They are not heavy and they are not slow. We can't get either , for the same political reasons we can't get the other really good performance diesels sold everywhere but here.
Just a few years ago I imported a Mercedes Unimog, slow and heavy by at least 3 times, but it was a tractor that was street legal, not a purpose built economical car. At that time, any engine less than 1000cc was ignored by almost every polution standard on the books. Does anyone know when that all magically changed? It might be worth the time to actually check some of this out, rather than repeat the ongoing stories about why we can't get diesels. VW and Mercedes ALWAYS have managed to produce diesels and sell them here. It's because they want to rather than find an excuse not to.

[lebikerboy]

I just have to chime in...the smart 450 cdi's engine weighs a whopping 69kg's which is 152lbs. On the engine cover of our 2006 it clearly states that is not for sale in the US.
We burn B50 bio-diesel (50% bio/50% dino) and it runs and smells great. As far as acceleration goes, no it isn't fast off the line but it will cruise all day at 75mph and get a lot better mileage than any 451 gasser could hope to achieve...

[dennyrex]

Smart power
Smart has increased the output of its diesel-powered 2010 ForTwo model for its home market of Germany and is considering exporting it to North America where buyers can currently only get a gasoline engine. Up 21 percent to 54 horsepower, the diminutive car also makes 18 percent more torque, while fuel economy remains at 69 mpg combined.

Sources: Associated Press, Wheelbase Communications

[lebikerboy]

Won't happen. The updated cdi smart engine still doesn't pass EPA NOX2 standards...

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/11/7...i-in-pictures/

[Kermit]

I'd love to get ahold of a wrecked 451 diesel to bring over here "for parts". Hey, a guy can dream. I love diesels.

I cross my fingers hoping they will someday have the smart diesel here.