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Americans don’t have much faith in diesel.

“According to a recent Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research study (January 2008), diesel’s stereotypes are ingrained in North Americans with only a small percentage believing that diesel has a hope of becoming a mainstream fuel. In fact, more survey respondents believe that hydrogen has a better shot at becoming a mainstream fuel than diesel, even though there are no consumer-based hydrogen vehicles, no infrastructure to deliver hydrogen and that some automakers are saying that practical use of hydrogen might be 30 years away.”

Driver’s perceptions may change when the Mercedes Bluetec system comes out. The German company has been developing an advanced technology called Bluetec for years to reduce the noise and dirt emitted by diesel cars and light trucks.

The Mercedes Bluetec system “includes an oxidizing catalytic converter and a diesel particulate filter as well as systems for reducing oxides of nitrogen emissions…(the) new system emits cleaner fumes without all that noise and dirt.”

Bluetec was developed by Mercedes-Benz, but other German manufacturers, such as BMW are also eager to incorporate. This is yet another example that shows how the more we investment in research, the more energy friendly technology we’ll develop.

As we have discussed on this blog many times most plug-in electric cars will have an electric only range of between 30-40 miles. Unquestionably a great distance, but a network of outlets to keep these cars charged could make it possible to never use gasoline at all.

Below is a quote from a University Wire release about plug-in hybrid vehicles and infrastructure:

“This week, the state of North Carolina announced plans to team up with Progress Energy and Duke Energy to launch a research and infrastructure program focused on the cars.

The Advanced Transportation Energy Center will be housed on the Centennial Campus of North Carolina State University. It will research batteries for hybrid cars and study the best ways to implement a statewide system to recharge the cars.”

This type of partnership makes gasoline free vehicle operation possible. Perhaps parking garages will have outlets installed in them. Maybe municipal parking meters will allow you to plug your car in for a charge. Parking lots at retailers, movie theaters or grocery stores could allow for a quick charge as well. No one knows exactly how this will work, but North Carolina State, Progress Energy and Duke Energy are going to start figuring it out.

If the electricity used comes form a renewable or low carbon source all the better. Emissions free vehicles make good sense for the environment, are good business for electric companies and offer an alternative to gasoline that has much of its infrastructure already in place. I look forward to hearing more about efforts like this in the future.