Diesel is Black, Not Green

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxTNZUhesZk – Audi Superbowl Commervial

In this Audi A3 commercial, which first aired during the Superbowl last year, Audi comes up with a very clever idea in the “Green Police”. The Green Police are seen placing people under arrest for such things as using a plastic credit card, using plastic water bottles, having the heat setting on a hot tub too high, throwing out batteries, and not composting an orange peel. This is a good idea and maybe the world should have something like this in place in order to cut back on the environmental damage. The irony in all of this is the fact that the Green Police arrest the real police for using styrofoam coffee cups.

The actual advertising objective is to inform the public of the new “clean diesel” that Audi has come out with for its A3 among other cars in their line up. At the end the only car that they let pass is the Audi with the clean diesel.

In reality, even the “cleanest” of diesel is still dirtier than the average gasoline engine. Although many companies have made great strides in order to make diesel as clean as possible, diesel fuels are a key fact in global warming and even if all diesels were designed to meet even the highest of standards, diesel cars would contribute more to global warming than petrol cars.

The new “clean” low sulphur diesel actually requires more crude oil then the conventional diesel and diesel engines are far more complex than gasoline engines, which means that they require more energy and more materials in order to manufacture them. So not only are they worse for the air and the environment but they use more resources and cost more money to make.

The upside to the diesel fuel is its overall fuel economy. The Audi A3 does get approximately 1000 km to the 55 litre tank that it provides. To some people, that may be worth the price that the environment is paying for them to have to fill up less often.

Another factor that is coming into play is biodiesel which can be produced by natural products such as canola or soybeans. Biodiesel can drastically reduce a vehicle’s tailpipe emissions but some may require too much production energy to make them worth the effort.

The decision is ultimately up to the consumer. Do you go with the fuel economy of the diesel engine which is producing black carbon which is contributing more to global warming? Or do you choose the gasoline car, which requires more frequent fill ups but has a healthier into the environment? Cars in general are one of the biggest contributors to the environment. Hybrid cars and electric cars are beginning to emerge stronger and stronger in the automotive industry. Can we right the wrong that we have created with the automobile? I think over time, we can!

- Ryan Pinkerton