GM asks US GOVT for better Diesel Fuel

Apr. 05, 2000-- General Motors is planning on challenging the long-standing U.S. resistance to diesel fuel by lobbying congress to change the laws on
diesel-powered vehicles, reported the Financial Times.

GM executives are pushing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to adopt new rules concerning NOX emissions in an effort to smooth the path
for more diesel cars and trucks.

"We think the US government does not understand modern diesel technology. New engines are cleaner, more efficient and have dramatically reduced
NOX emissions," said GM vice-chairman Harry Pearce, reported FT.

In Western Europe, nearly a third of the vehicles are diesel vehicles. While GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler are all working on more efficient vehicles,
GM is leading the way with diesel hybrids.

BONN, Germany, 4/20/2000 - An unusual alliance of the German car industry, motoring organisations and non-governmental organisations has called for the introduction of fuels with a lower sulphur content than required by European legislation. The alliance is urging fiscal incentives greater than those currently envisioned by the German government.


The Verkehrsclub Deutschland says that the proposal is to reduce sulphur to 50 parts per million (ppm) from January 1, 2000 followed by a reduction to just 10 ppm in 2001. Mineral oil tax should be reduced, making low sulphur fuels euros 0.025 or 0.03 (5 or 6
pfennigs) cheaper than current ones.

The organisations say the UK, Finland and Sweden are examples of how quickly low sulphur fuel can be introduced. The UK mineral oil association said that ultra low sulphur diesel sold in Britain has average sulphur levels of 30-40 ppm and market penetration is approaching 100 percent.

The German government proposal, to be discussed by the cabinet at the end of August, is to increase mineral oil tax on existing fuel by euros 0.01 and to reduce it on low sulphur fuel by euros 0.005 in November 2001.

There was a German government initiative to change the current European law reducing sulphur levels further to 10 ppm.

Skypup,

Your previous comments about the age and general condition of US refineries were spot on! ....All US corporations care about is pleasing the board of directors and their stockholders - good luck finding any visionaries(sic)! The technology to reduce sulphur is off the shelf stuff - it is simply a matter of commitment and $$$, which is alas, sorely lacking ....

TooSlick

ps: still deciding on that first motorcycle - thanks for the assistance !

Keep up the informative posts Skypup.

It's interesting and good news since now that I've gone diesel, I don't see myself ever going back to the "Dark Side".

Tom

"The organisations say the UK, Finland and Sweden are examples of how quickly low sulphur fuel can be introduced.
The UK mineral oil association said that ultra low sulphur diesel sold in Britain has average sulphur levels of 30-40
ppm and market penetration is approaching 100 percent. "

This just goes to prove how the refiners and whiners are just blowing smoke, it is simple to convert over to LOW SULPHUR, LOW AROMATICS, HIGH CETANE DIESEL FUEL and has already occured in Europe. These dimwits here in the US are just about to lose their monopoly on poor quality fuel when the EPA tells them to change for the better to match the Engine Manufacturers Recommendations for a PREMIUM DIESEL FUEL.

TS - scope out that new Suzook 400 dual sport real close, that is the only other mid-size ride on the market that could shake a leg behind my KTM's! If you want to ride with me, make sure you've got LOTS of windshield and facemask wiper fluid to help dilute my ROOST off yourself and your ride!! LOL

There is an excellent chance now the entire US diesel fuel industry will have to roll over, and bark to get their bone. Then we can all look forward to VW & AUDI top end EuroSpec TDI's to make it into our carports! THE TIME HAS COME!!!!!

GO USEPA!!!!!!!!!!

[This message has been edited by SkyPup (edited April 21, 2000).]

I dunno skypup...

Ted, I saw the most beautiful bike the other nite, a Ducati Monster Dark. Absolute mechanical poetry. Reminds me of the Buells, just beautiful. Oh well, maybe when I hit the lotto

------------------
'85 GTI beater, qtr. million miles+
still talking the wife into a new car
(anything VW as long as it says "turbo"!)

4-21-2000 - Since the catalytic converter was introduced in 1974, it's estimated that the
devices have kept more than 500 million tons of carbon monoxide and more
than 50 million tons each of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons out of the
atmosphere. And that's not the only benefit. Because the catalysts are
destroyed by lead, rules mandating lead-free gasoline had to be put in
place before the converters could be used. In the U.S., that 1970 decision
alone stopped 250,000 tons a year of toxic lead -- which can cause mental
retardation in children -- from being spewed into the air through cars'
tailpipes.
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/apr2000/nf00420f.htm?scriptFramed

This sounds alot better!

REFINERS RAKE IN RECORD PROFITS DUE TO DIESEL FUEL SHORTAGES

A late-winter cold snap in the Northeast and a heating oil and diesel fuel supply helped refiners Sunoco Inc. and Valero Energy Corp. post healthy earnings for the first quarter and beat analysts' forecasts.

For the past two years, volatile crude-oil prices and a drop-off in demand caused principally by the Asian economic crisis have battered refiners. But suddenly, the refining outlook is the best it has been in years, with diesel and heating-oil inventories at low levels.

"The fundamentals have completely reversed," said Christopher Stavros, an analyst with securities firm PaineWebber in New York, who expects even better earnings in the second quarter.

Sunoco Net Soars

Sunoco attributed its higher-than-expected profit to low heating-oil and diesel fuel inventories. The Philadelphia refiner said net income more than quadrupled to $78 million, or 87 cents a diluted share, from $19 million, or 21 cents a share, a year earlier.

A record $50 million of Sunoco's first-quarter profit came from refining operations in the Northeast, where Sunoco has 70% of its capacity. Last year, the unit posted a loss of $16 million. Profit margins more than doubled to $4.42 a barrel.

Valero Energy Swings to Profit

Valero Energy, of San Antonio, swung to a profit of $30.7 million, or 54 cents a diluted share, from a net loss of $2.7 million, or five cents a share, a year earlier. The profit was a penny better than the analysts' consensus estimate, according to First Call.

Gulf Coast margins for distillates, or heating oil, diesel fuel and jet fuel, exploded to $1.84 a barrel from 31 cents.

Going into the summer, more stringent product specifications in the U.S. and Europe and fewer planned refinery capacity additions should keep supply tight and refinery margins and our profits strong, said Valero Energy Chairman and Chief Executive Bill Greehey.

"Sunoco attributed its higher-than-expected profit to low heating-oil and diesel fuel inventories. The Philadelphia refiner said net income more than quadrupled to $78 million, or 87 cents a diluted share, from $19 million, or 21 cents a share, a year earlier. A record $50 million of Sunoco's first-quarter profit came from refining operations in the Northeast, where Sunoco has 70% of its capacity. Last year, the unit posted a loss of $16 million. Profit margins more than doubled to $4.42 a barrel.

Gulf Coast margins for distillates, or heating oil, diesel fuel and jet fuel, exploded to $1.84 a barrel from 31 cents."


Read and Weep folks, how we are getting ripped off from the poor grade low quality diesel fuel refiners! This is a National Shame