The Washington Auto Show reportedly showcased some of the latest clean diesel cars and pick-up trucks in the advanced technology superhighway.

 

The Diesel Technology Forum, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the economic importance and environmental progress of diesel engines and equipment, anchored the clean diesel display at the Washington Auto Show held at the Washington, D.C. convention center.

 

According to Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, the clean diesel display let consumers learn more about the benefits of new clean diesel cars and trucks. Visitors were also able to see the 2010 Green Car of the Year, the clean diesel-powered Audi A3 TDI (News - Alert) at the show.

 

In addition, luxury performance sedans and sport utility vehicles from BMW and Mercedes-Benz were on display along with the new Golf TDI hatchback from Volkswagen. The show also featured future clean diesel products including the Volkswagen Polo Blue Motion.

 

Schaeffer said that the show is also about pick-up trucks with Dodge, Ford and GMC showing an impressive 2010 line-up with the new Ford Powerstroke Diesel, the Ram Heavy-Duty with the Cummins Turbodiesel and the GMC Silverado featuring the Duramax diesel. Diesel fuel is readily available throughout the Washington, DC region. In fact, almost half of the service stations now sell ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel.

 

A number of drivers in the Washington, D.C. region would find a clean diesel car to be the better “green car” choice that can deliver consistently high fuel economy. This region has a mix of some downtown city driving along with interstate driving at highway speeds. In such cases, clean diesel cars and pick-ups offer consumer’s ways to get better fuel economy than gasoline and some other alternative fuel vehicles. In addition, clean diesel cars and pick-ups save energy and greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Schaeffer concluded that the advanced technology showcase was also open to policymakers and legislators from Capitol Hill to compare the new generation of clean diesel cars side-by-side with other alternative fuels and technologies. Clean diesel technology offers up to 40 percent fuel economy savings and also reduces greenhouse gas emissions by about 20 percent when compared to gasoline. Diesel offers consumers reduced energy consumption, lower CO2 emissions, as well as the potential to use renewable fuels like biodiesel without sacrificing performance.