Read the following article. What is the story about? Why is there such a difference between Europe and the US regarding diesel usage? What could be done to change it? Relate one principle of economic thinking to the article? What is the title of this blog a reference to and how does it relate? THere is a link to another article on the left side of the page. How does it relate to the diesel problem featured in the main article?
16 Comments
Randall McKay
1/23/2013 01:22:29 pm
This BBC article investigates why american consumer dont use diesel powered vehicles like the europeans do. One of the reason we see so fewer diesel cars in the U.S. is more of a choice by automakers than the product of a decree by regulators on either side of the Atlantic. Another reason being that there are taxes placed on diesel at the pumps 25% higher than gasoline (24.4 cents per gallon of diesel but only 18.4 cents per gallon of gasoline). A possible solution could be to lift the taxes on diesel and for american auto makers to make smaller and more economical vehicles, rather than our big diesel trucks. Oldsmobile was a car manufacturer that died out in 2004, at that time ironically being the oldest car manufacturer being started in the late 1890's. The article about electric cars is also about why people dont use them. First off its just as harmful to the environment to produce that car and its batteries as our diesel and gas powered cars, second the technology isn't quite there yet.
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Wendy Maxson
1/24/2013 07:01:46 am
This article questions America's use of gasoline. Europeans claim that diesel is much more efficient and money-saving than gasoline. In the U.S., the connotation of the word "diesel" is not particularly a good one. Diesel users are often frowned upon and pitied. The fact that not every gas station has diesel allows for gas stations to price their diesel on a wide scale. One way to change this is to install more diesel pumps and encourage the use of diesel. Also, if car manufactures would make smaller, more economical cars that run on diesel, people other than truck-lovers would be interested in diesel fueled cars. This is an example of social incentive. Not everyone wants to be seen as a stereotypical "truck-driver". So including a wider range of cars could possibly motivate more people to drive with diesel.
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Nicole LeMieux
1/24/2013 12:12:30 pm
In "Why do American's not drive diesels?", BBC's Richard Aucock investigates the reasoning behind America's choice to rely more heavily on gasoline than diesel for automobile fuel. Britain has a more efficient system regarding fuel usage, employing diesel as a main source of fuel; this is sharply contrasted by America's dependence on gasoline. This difference is instigated by the false notion in America that diesel is a "bad fuel", but really, it is less harmful for the environment than gasoline, and is considerably less expensive. People seem to have a moral incentive to disregard diesel as a source of fuel because it is said to have detrimental effects on the environment. A possible solution to this problem may be the publication of an informational pamphlet or article by a well-known journalistic source stating the realities of diesel and gasoline as fuels, including and contrasting the positive and negative aspects of each. The installation of diesel stations and diesel pumps at gas stations would also be an instigating factor, pushing people towards diesel use. The article included on the left side of the page discusses electric vehicles and the reasons behind peoples' choice to use alternate vehicles, and though there are benefits to electric cars, the costs seem to outweigh them.
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Jose A Hernandez
1/24/2013 01:24:06 pm
In the article, "Why Don't Americans Drive Diesels," Europe is questioning why does America not use diesels fuel if it fits our living conditions. They know that U.S. consumers are purchasing more economical vehicles that have high mpg knowing that oil and gas prices are soaring and will not drop. Although diesel fuel costs an average of 30 cents more than premium gasoline, ironically it saves more trips to the gas stations and with that more money; this could be seen as an economical incentive. However people are not educated and informed of the positive effects of diesel fuel thus create a negative social incentive of the use and the reason why diesel usage is considerably low and thus create a society that puts down, ignores and stereo typically call diesel consumers truck drivers. The only way to increase diesel demand is to create machinery such as generators, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and even water/air vehicles that are powered by diesel fuel and for more create a demand of fuel in the market. In addition to creating more gas stations with diesel pumps, the demand of diesel could drive the prices down. The one noticeable difference between Europe's demand of diesel and America's demand for gasoline is that car companies create products that increases profit. Knowing gasoline is one of the main fossil fuel for the U.S.; car companies will keep producing vehicles that run on gasoline. According to the article about electric cars one example why electric cars are not popularly used in the U.S. is that the law of opportunity cost. Electric cars have a high risk although they may be more environmental clean; however it requires a country that produces its electricity in several ways like Europe unlike the U.S our main energy source is coal.
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Jose A Hernandez
1/24/2013 01:28:17 pm
Electric cars are more environmentally clean when the country produces its electricity in several ways.
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1/24/2013 01:52:34 pm
According to the article "Why do Americans not drive diesels?", BBC's Richard Aucock's investigation led to a big question for American drivers. Stereotypically gasoline is a much more reliable source for automotive fuel, that may be the case but according to Europe's system in automotive fuel, Diesel is a much more reliable and economical friendly. This is more of an economical and social incentive. Economical because the article points out differences in gasoline and diesel, and social because people see diesel users as "truck drivers". As well as creating truck that run on diesel we can create more economical vehicles that will run on diesel too. Maybe in the future we will see diesel not just for truck driver but also for vehicles, boats and more!
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Lola Behrens
1/24/2013 02:04:46 pm
Richard Aucock's article, "Why do Americans not drive Diesels?" deals with the issue of why Americans, on average, prefer gasoline instead of diesel fuel. Diesel usage in Europe is incredibly common, but this is aided by the fact that they have fuel with a much higher cetane rating. Furthermore, the stricter emissions limits in the US require us to an expensive after-treatment system that notably raises the price of diesels in the States. However, despite the high price of a diesel engine, the long-term benefits of better gas-mileage and decreased amount of necessary tank refills seem to outweigh the burden of the initial expense. This is an example of "Cost vs. Benefits," an economic principle. In context, the principle begs the question of whether or not spending the extra money on a diesel-fueled vehicle outweighs the benefits of said car. In my opinion, the benefits are not outweighed, and should be taken into consideration as they make the cost of the engine worth it. The title of the page, "Not your (grand) father's Oldsmobile," implies that American's need to embrace new norms into the automobile industry, and accept that 2013 calls for improved technologies. The article, "Electric cars 'pose environmental threat,'" relates to Aucock's article in that it strengthens the argument for diesel-powered cars. It claims that the "green" movement of electric vehicles may in fact prove to be detrimental, and American's should consider alternative options.
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Martha Lopez
1/25/2013 09:43:50 am
In the article why do Americans not drive diesels? By Richard Aucock is about the usage of diesel in Europe and in America. This article mostly addresses why Europeans chose diesel over gasoline. We see that although diesel has many advantages it also has disadvantages. For example diesel has a better fuel affiance than gas, but the down side to diesel is that it does not meet the strict smog and acid rain causing emissions laws. This article looks at both sides and it’s telling us that we should consider diesel is expensive as a fuel and the car parts are expensive the article says we should consider it. Why is there such a difference between Europe and the US regarding diesel usage? There are a lot of differences between Europeans and Americans regarding diesel usage. Europeans prefer diesel over gasoline because “A 1.6-litre turbodiesel delivers the torque surge of a much larger gasoline engine, yet with the fuel efficiency of a much smaller one.”(Aucock). So Europeans prefer diesel because of the fuel efficiency and the power it offers. Also Americans prefer gasoline because it does not harm the environment as much. Even thought this problem can be fixing with more scientist researching diesel. Also Americans don’t like to spend so much money in green environment car systems, which is something that a diesel car or fuels are, not preferred in the US. I also believe that gasoline is a great part of the economy so the US won’t replace gasoline for diesel in a while.
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Sarah Gamble
1/25/2013 09:45:25 am
In Richard Aucock's article, "Why do Americans not drive diesels?" Aucock argues that it is time for Americans to give diesel another chance. Gone is the diesel of old, and in its stead is a cleaner, more efficient fuel. Yet, in the United States, due to our strict regulations on NOx emissions, diesels in the US have to have costly after-treamtent systems installed in cars which decrease the amount of matter that leaves the tailpipe. Also, Europeans have fuel with a higher cetane rating which allows for better control of NOx emissions, something the US lacks. However, Aucock still argues that diesel is worth the extra dime, because as Europeans have discovered, the "savings add up." In the article, Aucock discusses the expensive pricing of diesel cars and weighs the benefits. This brings up an economic principle commonly know as "Cost vs. Benefits." This principle simply questions whether the benefits of the diesel powered car (i.e. efficiency and cleanliness) are worth the steep price.
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Gaby Gonzalez
1/25/2013 10:44:41 am
In the article "Why do Americans not Drive Diesels" by Richard Aucocks states why do dont american consumer of cars use diesel powered vehicles as the Europeans do?? Now in days Americans consider to buy more expensive vehicles that have a higher mpg just to look better in cars with higher mpg even though they know that gasolin is expensive as the oil too. Europeans consider that the use of diesel powered vehicles its better than any other car that has to use gasolin.yes the diesel fuel costs a little bit more but the
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Yesenia Gomez
1/25/2013 11:13:54 am
In the BBC article "Why do Americans not drive diesels?" Richard Aucock claims that diesel is a lot more efficient for the reason that it is less harmful for the environment and it's not as expensive. There is a difference between European and the U.S. regarding diesel usage because in the U.S. the word diesel is known an "bad" and it is also said to have detrimental effects not knowing that it is less harm for the environment and not giving any consideration to it, therefore, they want nothing to do with it. On the other hand Britain uses diesel and not gasoline because it's more effective in several ways. The article "Electric cars 'pose environmental threat'" is also about why people are not using the electric cars just how on the previous article Aucock talks about people not using deisel. Over all, i believe that people in the U.S should really pay attention to the effects of diesel and not change the real meaning of it just by looking at the word.
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Richard Hoppe
1/25/2013 01:47:19 pm
In the article "Why do American's not drive diesels?", BBC's Richard Aucock discusses why Americans on the most part prefer gasoline instead of diesel fuel. Americans have gave up on the thought of diesel and demand on gasoline.,while Europe has a more efficient system regarding fuel usage, employing diesel as a main source of fuel; this is sharply contrasted by America's dependence on gasoline. This could be a problem if gasoline becomes a need and we don't have enough of it. Like Randall Mckay the business man said a possible solution could be to lift the taxes on diesel and for american auto makers to make smaller and more economical vehicles, rather than our big diesel trucks.This would help with the cost of diesel and the usage of it. If we make more cars or smaller trucks to run on diesel that could help the economy, spend a little more money on a good diesel engine that would last longer and be more efficient in the future. The title of the page, "Not your (grand) father's Oldsmobile," depicts that American's need to take in new that times have changed and the future is going to keep changing due to the fact of technology. On the other hand the other article “Electric cars 'pose environmental threat,” states that we need to attempt to run on diesel again for a better future.
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Daniel Gonzalez
1/27/2013 12:22:51 pm
In the BBC article "Why Do Americans Not Buy Diesel", Richard Aucock talks about how how the resource diesel is being overlooked. It's questioning why the United States isn't jumping on the diesel train and leaving the gasoline trail behind. It states how in the 80's many drivers in the UK could barely find anywhere to fill up their diesel cars, and were also shunned by the people around them. Now it todays world, over 50% of the drivers in the UK drive diesel cars.It argues on how the Unites States should change their fuel to diesel, yet because of the strict regulations on NOx emissions, it's too expensive for many Americans because of they have to add a sort of treatment system to help filter through the bad chemicals. The main reason there is a separation between the two duels and UK and US is because the United States got accustomed to using gasoline and same goes for UK except its diesel. The way they would change this is if the US changes from gasoline to diesel, but that process is to expensive for many drivers with todays economy. One section of economics that could connect to the article would be the invisible hand, lets say if the United States do change from gasoline to diesel, soon the competition for diesel will increase, so the price from diesel will start decreasing, and this is all because of the invisible hand. How the Government isn't really telling the gas stations on how much they should really charge it for. I agree with what Lola said about the title of the blog. On how people now have to learn to embrace the new technology that we have. The other article "Electric cars 'pose environmental threat", talks about how going electric isn't always the best way to go. That there are better alternatives to go as well. Again like Lola said that the 'green' movement isn't always going to be electric vehicles, but we have to look at the other resources.
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Carlos Gutierrez
1/28/2013 03:09:57 pm
Richard Aucock'c article, "Why do Americans not drive Diesels?", focuses on the automobile differences between Britain and America. Aucock argues that it is time for Americans to adopt a more diesel friendly outlook on transportation just as the Brits have done. Aucock goes into detail and says that even though America does have stricter emissions limits and it is more expensive to build diesel engines, it is time to change course and that Americans should take up a more diesel friendly approach to the way they fill up their cars, not only because its more cheap but also because it can help the environment. One economic principle that is shown here is "Cost vs. Benefits" Aucock argues that the slightly higher cost of building diesel guzzling vehicles does not outweigh the fact that diesel is a cleaner and more money saving form of fuel. In regrads to the title of this blog, I feel that it further exemplifies that the cars we use now are not the ones weve always used, and that because theyre newer and more suited for this generation, we must find better and more efficient ways or filling them up.
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Nancy Hernandez (GOOFED)
1/28/2013 10:51:52 pm
In the article “Why do Americans not drive diesels,” writer Richard Aucock discusses the differences in fuel usage between the US and Britain and points out that it is time for us to give diesel a try. For years diesel was recognized as a “dirty word” or “dirty fuel,” however Aucock insists that it could bring better outcomes to our fuel economy and better yet give us better mileage. Europeans have chosen diesel over gas because it is much more effiecient, but the reason why Americans arent attacted to it is because there arent many places to fill up, and it can be pretty costly. A way to fix this could be to have more gas stations that have diesel available regularly and to spread awareness of the positive effects it has not only to our economy but also our environment. An example of an economic principle is “Cost vs. Benefit” which in context questions the benefits of having a diesel powered car and if they are over all worth the price. The article “Electriv cars ‘pose environmental threat’” points out that new research has suggested that electric cars may not be as eco-friendly as we may have thought, and serves as supporting evidence to the diesel fuel push.
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Caty Jacobo
1/30/2013 05:24:25 am
The article "Why do Americans not drive diesel" is about why we don't use it and why Britan does. The Europeans see it that it would benifit Americans and our "driving style" perfectly, and it would give us better mileage. The way the artcile talks about diesel sounds like we should give it a try, but America does't want to because its not something that Americans would want. People would not accept it and not want to use it. It is also because it wouldn't be available in a lot of places. Also to make diesel units is expensive and gasoline units are not. The writer of the article Richard Aucock ends his article saying that its time for America to try it and maybe we should give diesel a different look.
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