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Diesel Vehicles

Audi A3

Diesel engines are more fuel-efficient and have more low-end torque than similar-sized gasoline engines, and diesel fuel contains roughly 10% to 15% more energy than gasoline. So, diesel vehicles can often go about 20% to 35% farther on a gallon of fuel than their gasoline counterparts. Plus, today's diesel vehicles are much improved over diesels of the past.

Better Performance

Improved fuel injection and electronic engine control technologies have

  • Increased power
  • Improved acceleration
  • Increased efficiency

New engine designs, along with noise- and vibration-damping technologies, have made them quieter and smoother. Cold-weather starting has been improved also.

Cleaner

Mercedes ML320 BlueTEC

Today's diesels must meet the same emissions standards as gasoline vehicles. Advances in engine technologies, ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, and improved exhaust treatment have made this possible.

Although emissions of particulates and smog-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) are still relatively high, new "clean" diesel fuels, such as ultra-low sulfur diesel and biodiesel, and advances in emission control technologies will reduce these pollutants also.

View Data Sources…

Energy content of gasoline and diesel fuel taken from Alternative Fuels Data Center – Fuel Properties ComparisonAdobe Acrobat Icon.

This website is administered by Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the U.S. DOE and the U.S. EPA.