Diesel Industry News - November 2006

New Cummins V-6 and V-8 Engines By 2010
They're not naming names, but the people behind the Cummins light-duty diesel engines-specifically, Cummins-have said they've partnered with an automaker to produce diesels for pickups and sport utes. Cummins already makes engines for Dodge Rams, as well as the medium- and heavy-duty Fords, Volvos, and VWs. We all know Nissan wants to bring a diesel to the North American market, but, of course, who can ignore Toyota?

Now here's where it gets interesting. On the Department of Energy's Web site (www.doe.gov) there are a handful of Cummins reports that discuss a joint venture between 4.2L V-6 and 5.6L V-8 diesels with single overhead cams, four valves per cylinder, and common rail injection. Power outputs are in the 250-325 hp and 460-520 lb-ft of torque range with the higher numbers going to the V-8 engine. Much of the initial testing appears to have been done in an '01 Dodge Ram, which leads us to believe the V-8 engine will end up in Dodge 1/2-ton trucks, with the V-6 going into the Dakota and Durango. Don't worry, we can't see either of these engines replacing the current 5.9/6.7L B-Series engine in the 3/4- and 1-ton trucks.

'07 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra The new GMT900 11/42-ton trucks are rolling onto dealer lots as we speak. No word on a diesel option as of press time, but there is a 400hp/417 lb-ft 6.2L gasoline V-8 that will be available with a six-speed 6L80E transmission. Towing capacity will top out at an impressive 10,500 pounds. Expect the 31/44-and 1-ton HD trucks to come out in the beginning of January 2007. Don't be surprised if a 4.9L V-6 Duramax shows up in the 11/42-ton truck with a 6L90E transmission at the same time.	A Diesel For Audi Talk is that the sporty Audi TT will get a diesel (funny how a kick-ass performance at Le Mans will do that), although not in the United States. Yet. No details are available at this point in the game, but Audi did tell Diesel Power that a TDI model "is something Audi of America is pushing very hard for."
Pretty Diesel Julia Roberts has joined Willie Nelson (a sentence we're not likely ever to write again) in the promotion of renewable fuels, such as biodiesel and ethanol. She will be a spokeswoman and will chair the advisory board for Earth Biofuels, and in such capacity will work on a program to get people thinking about using biodiesel in more than 500,000 diesel-fueled school buses around the United States. And yeah, that's her on the left as "Hova" in the flick The Ant Bully. We were too cheap to buy a real photo of her, and we couldn't find a photo anywhere of her fueling up with biodiesel.	Pearl Jam Goes Biodiesel To offset the carbon emissions from its '06 U.S. tour, Pearl Jam is using B100-pure biodiesel-in all production trucks and tour buses. The band has launched the 2006 Carbon Portfolio Strategy, which will include both activism and a donation of $100,000 to nine organizations that are doing work for renewable energy and environmental well-being. As the band says, the goal is to work with these groups to "mitigate our own carbon emissions" and ultimately have zero net emissions for its tours and businesses.
Isuzu Pushes Diesels Both new and enhanced Web sites are out there: www.isuzudieselengine.com and www.isuzucv.com (they'll take you to the same place). As the domain names say, they are Isuzu-themed and were created to bring Isuzu Commercial Truck of America's consumers up to speed on '07 emissions standards. Details about the 7.8L and 5.2L engines, including specs, ratings, and warranty info, can be found there as well as other Isuzu vehicle info.	Isuzu Pushes Diesels Both new and enhanced Web sites are out there: www.isuzudieselengine.com and www.isuzucv.com (they'll take you to the same place). As the domain names say, they are Isuzu-themed and were created to bring Isuzu Commercial Truck of America's consumers up to speed on '07 emissions standards. Details about the 7.8L and 5.2L engines, including specs, ratings, and warranty info, can be found there as well as other Isuzu vehicle info.
Aptera Prototype These types of ideas are usually hatched around a campfire that's stocked with plenty of beer: "A 330-mpg car." But the engineers at the San Diego, California, company Accelerated Composites have soberly built a diesel-electric hybrid concept called Aptera. The two-seater coupe is said to get 330 mpg at 65 mph, thanks to aerodynamics and low curb weight (850 pounds).	(continue) It's made almost completely of lightweight composites and utilizes a "driver-protection 'crash box,'" such as what's found in F1 race cars.The Aptera has a 12hp CARB-certified diesel engine coupled with a 25hp DC motor, an automatic CVT transmission, and a speed limiter of 95 mph.
(continue) It's 173 inches long and runs unequal-length composite control arms for the front suspension and a composite swingarm at the rear. And they're serious about selling the Aptera. Pricing will be less than $20,000. Go to www.acceleratedcomposites.com for details.	Biodiesel Nation We dug this map produced by the National Biodiesel Board (www.biodiesel.org), which gives you an at-a-glance look at where U.S. biodiesel retailers are located (current at press time).
Michigan-based Elliott's Amusements and McDonagh's Amusements were given a grant by the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee to switch to soy biodiesel to power generators and diesel equipment for the rides at county fairs. It was all in an effort to clean the air at the fairs and to show how simple it is to use alternative fuel.