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Ahhhhh... Diesel!

Posted on Jul 22, 2010 by Trevor J Rudderham

Based on the tremendously challenging requirements for a truly purpose-built law enforcement patrol vehicle put forward to us by the Carbon Council, since ‘Day 1’ we have always planned to use a high tech clean diesel engine in the Carbon E7. This has evoked both enthusiasm and curiosity. Those ‘in the know’ about clean diesel understood straight away why this is the right decision given how our law enforcement professionals use their vehicles. The curious have said it is an interesting decision and have asked why we chose that route. Well, the simple answer to that question is that there is no better powertrain technology today for providing a combination of high performance and outstanding fuel economy.

In Europe fuel costs several times what it costs in the US (even with our fuel costing $2.50-$3.00 per gallon!), so fuel economy is a critical requirement. Performance, however, remains an important attribute too, particularly in Germany where many of the freeways have no speed limit. With these factors as a backdrop, it is easy to see why around 60% of all passenger cars sold in Europe are diesels…

As the head of product development and one of the main advocates on the team for using the diesel powertrain here, and with the imminent announcement of BMW as our powertrain partner, I decided earlier this year to put my money where my mouth is and I bought a BMW 335d. This is their small(-ish) sedan with the present version of the engine that will go into the Carbon E7 – a turbocharged six cylinder diesel.

We all know BMW make great cars (Fortune ranked BMW the #1 most admired car company on the planet) and I was in no doubt when I picked up the car that I would really like it. It is, however, easy to like any bright new shiny thing, so before writing about my experiences with it I wanted the honeymoon to end.

I have now driven the car over 5,000 miles and all I can say it has only got better! My usage has included freeways, urban and cross-country. As my colleagues will testify, I do not drive slowly (although I of course respect the law!). Despite this, I have averaged over 31mpg, and on one trip with an average speed of 61mph on varying road types I achieved 37.1mpg!

By any measure, this fuel economy is quite extraordinary. When you take into account that a well-known car magazine measured the 0-60 mph time at 5.3 seconds, it becomes even more satisfying. The last vehicle I had with comparable performance to the 335d (I won’t say what it was) averaged around 19mpg.

I never had any doubts, but now I have first hand experience that the diesel engine in the Carbon E7 will astound our law enforcement professionals with its performance and delight their agencies with the significant fuel savings leading to serious $$$ saved!

Trevor J Rudderham
Executive Vice President
Chief Development Officer
Carbon Motors Corporation

Tagged: police, police car, carbon motors, diesel, trevor, rudderham, bmw, green, sustainable, homeland security, e7, atvmip, atvmlp, ford, taurus, interceptor, chevrolet, chevy, caprice, dodge, charger, section 136, jobs, economic, development, connersville, indiana, cop, cops, cop car, cop cars, purpose built, law enforcement, patrol, patrol vehicle

Comments

Tim S said:

It's too bad there wasn't an American engine that met the E7's requirements. I have been driving a Volkswagen diesel for the past two years, and have had a similar experience. I am so frustrated at how this country doesn't embrace diesel!

Harold Jordan said:

I live in connersville. I have been to all rallies. I even made signs for the announcement day. All this is good. I want this to come to my town but as time keeps moving on I get worried that this will never get underway. If the economy is bad who will allot money for a high price car that only Jane bond would ever need. Again I believe in this business but if it fails I live here and will have to pay back the bonds we secured for carbon.

Jeff King said:

You couldn't have made a better choice for the powerplant in the E7. I bought a new VW Golf turbodiesel back in 2001 and I'm still driving it to this day. It's got 416,000 miles, troublefree, no smoke and still gets 50mpg on the highway. Diesels are the way to go. Long life, good mileage, crazy torque at low rpm's. Good choice.

Glynn Alwyn-Jones said:

I've been following the development of the E7 since the very beginning - I'm an old (yes, very old!) friend of Trevor Rudderham - and, from an European perspective, I can but echo his comments. Diesel is the only way forward - I know as I own a Range Rover 4.2 Supercharged and never will I ever again own such a gas guzzler!!!! For sure, performance can be achieved from diesel engines and, now that the "tractor noise" of these motors has been all but eliminted, why would anyone, be they government, police forces, individuals or aliens from Planet Zog buy anything else. Glynn Alwyn-Jones in London.

Tim G said:

Having been in the Military Police in the Army, I have had the mispleasure of driving some very dilikeable vehicles, including the German made Volkswagon Caravan deisel. To hear that the E7 has a BMW deisel interests me, I am not an MP anymore but I do like to see new Police cars come out every year and the first time i saw this I liked it. I will be keeping up on your technolgy, AWESOME JOB, As we say in the Army, HOOOAH!!!!

Dietrich S said:

I have the same BMW 335d and agree it is a great car! I have close to 11,000 miles on mine and it has not yet needed to visit the service station. My fuel economy is even better that what Trevor has achieved... but then again I believe my driving may be a tad less aggressive than that race car enthusiast. This is my second BMW Diesel and I already have my order in for my third. People (and the Police) just need to drive the Diesels and they will love them! Dietrich