5 of Top 10 Fastest Growing Alternative Technology Vehicles of 2020 Were Diesel-Powered

This past weekend we read a news story that had a fairly striking statistic. It said, "Sales of pickup tucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) with diesel engines grew 28 percent during 2020, even as overall auto sales declined by over 14% for the year."

Sometimes we can't even see what's right in front of our faces because of all the other distractions. Of course, this is one of the tricks of the magicians trade. It's called misdirection. While we're watching his left hand he pockets the coin that he'd transferred to his right.

This, however, is what's interesting: "Among alternative fueled vehicle offerings, vehicles with diesel engines held 5 of the top 10 rankings for fastest growing sales (2019-2020), according to the Diesel Technology Forum based on data and analysis provided by Alan Baum and Associates."

Monday's Street Insider story drew from information released by the Diesel Technology Forum earlier that day. 

That diesels have been popular is nothing new. Full-size pickups have been among the best-selling vehicles in American for years. What's noteworthy, according to Allen Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum (DTF), was the 28% growth in sales last year, which shows how much consumers are embracing the new generation of diesel technology.  

Schaeffer pointed out several stats that some people would find eye-opening, especially in this period in which we're striving to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel economy. The fuel economy savings on the more than 140,000 new diesels sold last year helped boost fuel efficiency by 16 to 25 percent. If every full-size pickup sold in the U.S. were equipped with an advanced diesel engine, the U.S. could save 500 million gallons of fuel per year. "Greater fuel economy from diesel engines means using less fuel, saving money and fewer greenhouse gas emissions, benefits everyone can value." 

The trend toward SUVs and pickup trucks has been picking up for more than a decade. "What is new," Schaeffer said, "is the growing number of more fuel-efficient offerings for car and truck buyers than ever before, ranging from battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, full hybrid and even hydrogen fuel cell options, although diesel continues to dominate in the alternative fuel segment. That five of the top ten fastest selling alternative fuel vehicles sold in 2020 are diesel-powered, is a very strong statement that consumers value what the new diesel engines offer.”

The article went on to describe the 13 diesel options available in mid, full-size and heavy-duty pickup trucks beginning in 2020. “In the vehicle segments more Americans now prefer, more diesel options are turning out to be a win-win because diesel is a fuel-efficient choice that requires no compromises in fuel efficiency, vehicle utility or performance. With readily available fuel at more than two-thirds of all stations, highway ratings of as much as 33 mpg along with driving ranges that can exceed 500 miles on a single tank, the diesel option presents great overall value for consumers in these larger vehicles,” said Schaeffer.

In short, one of the primary strengths of diesel at this point in time is the ready availability of fuel. The infrastructure is in place and the benefits are many. You can read the full Street Insider story Here.

Diesel Technology Forum is a not-for-profit association representing manufacturers of diesel engines and equipment, key suppliers of emissions control and other technologies, and fuel producers. The press release that the Street Insider story drew from has additional information and a great chart at the end which you should check out. The DTF release is titled DIESEL SALES UP 28% IN 2020 BOOSTING TRUCK SEGMENT FUEL ECONOMY. Read it HERE.

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