Our national security continues to be at stake. By borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Middle East, we dig ourselves deeper into the hole each day. As a nation, we must take a comprehensive and unbiased approach to national transportation/energy policy. We have been given the natural resources to make this happen. … Read more
Domestic energy independence and economic renewal are core themes here at MPGomatic. Today’s announcement of the Federal Recovery Through Retrofit program spurs the question: why isn’t there a Recovery Through Retrofit Program for Pickup Trucks? Tens of millions of existing pickup trucks could benefit from the conversion to plentiful natural gas or to more fuel-efficient … Read more
While I get to drive a wide range of vehicles, I’ve got to admit, the seven-passenger land yachts are rarely among my favorites. But the new Audi Q7 TDI is a big exception to that.
This wonderful beast delivers a unique combination of fuel efficiency, range, driveability, luxury, and towing capacity, along with some of the best in-cabin technology on the market today.
If you’ve spent much time on MPGomatic.com, watched a bunch of my review videos on YouTube, or follow me on Twitter, you might already know that I dig clean diesel technology and the potential it holds for America.
With all the hoopla about our nation hitting a 35.5 mile per gallon (MPG) average for new cars and trucks by 2016, its easy to lose sight of some simple facts. The original goal set forth by the Bush administration was 35 MPG by 2020. The Obama administration has simply proposed that we speed up the effort by four years and turn up the dial on fuel efficiency.
It’s a great feeling knowing that someone has been listening. We’ve been banging the drum here at MPGomatic for two years now.
An average of 35.5 MPG is not a lofty goal, even in this shortened time frame. Back in March of 2008, MPGomatic opened some eyeballs and raised a lot of eyebrows when we published 35 MPG: Why Wait Until 2020, an article that provided details on the export-only fuel-efficient diesel-powered cars and SUVs that Chrysler builds right here in North America, half of which already hit the 35 MPG mark. Hundreds of thousands of folks have read that article and learned the truth over the past fourteen months.
In Europe, 35 MPG isn’t a goal. It’s the norm.
America need not and must not fear this change. We must embrace it with the realization that it is the best way forward.
It’s back to the future time. The average price for diesel fuel in the U.S. is currently lower than regular unleaded gasoline. While retail costs are on the rise across the board, the rate of rise for gasoline has exceeded that of diesel fuel.
According to the Energy Information Administration, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is currently $2.240 per gallon in the U.S., while the average price for a gallon of diesel fuel is $2.216. Price differentials vary on a region by region basis, with the cost of diesel exceeding regular unleaded gasoline in many locations. The diesel price advantage is highest in the Midwest, where a gallon of regular unleaded averages $2.257 and diesel fuel averages $2.156.
It’s unclear whether this trend will continue as we enter the summer driving season, when gas prices typically peak. If it does, sales of fuel efficient clean diesels like the Volkswagen Jetta TDI and BMW 335d are sure to increase.
