|
|
 |
|
Viewing report
|
|
|
|
Analysis of Diesel Powertrain Outlook and Technology Roadmap in North America
Frost & Sullivan, Dec 2010, Pages: 109
Benefits of High Availability and Fuel Efficiency Ensure Strong Uptake of Diesel Powertrains in North America
The North American (NA) automotive market is poised to witness increased penetration of diesel powertrains in the passenger vehicle segment. On the other hand, the pickup segment will have marginal growth. Diesel powertrains have an edge over their gasoline counterparts as they offer optimal fuel economy in all driving conditions - city, highway, and towing. Diesel powertrain has experienced significant traction in NA with the models offered by European original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) When the diesel powertrain is offered as an option to gasoline, the take-up rate has been as high as 30 percent compared to just 10 percent for the hybrid option. This points to the high level of interest the diesel powertrains have garnered and their potential, if offered by OEMs. “The new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) standards aimed at reducing fuel consumption favor alternative powertrains to gasoline, propelling diesel into a position of advantage as an established technology against hybrids and electrics,” notes the analyst of this research service, “European OEMs’ diesel expertise is a readily available solution to tackle the fuel economy challenge.” The premium for a diesel vehicle over its corresponding gasoline version is, in most cases, lower than that for a hybrid vehicle. For instance, cost per mile, which includes factors such as fuel cost, taxes, tax credit, depreciation, insurance and financing, maintenance, and repair, for a VW Jetta is lower than that of a Toyota Prius, thus ensuring lower payback times compared to hybrids.
Although the market for diesel powertrains in North America has progressed steadily, some aspects have been clouding its landscape. Over the past decade, there has been a preference for hybrid powertrains offered by Toyota and Honda. This trend is unlikely to change significantly in the foreseeable future. While NA has fuel neutral emission standards, its fuel economy targets are low when compared to that of Europe. The stringent emission norms with regards to nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) have had a negative impact on diesel powertrains and limited market penetration. “With the incentives offered for developing hybrid and electric technology, diesel is losing a considerable amount of steam,” says the analyst. “Going forward, the cost of hybrid and electric technologies will experience a downtrend, dampening prospects for diesel powertrains.” The advantage of ultra-low emissions and higher mileage rev up the attraction quotient for hybrid powertrains.
In this scenario, investment in diesel powertrain for NA OEMs is not an attractive option, primarily due to an increasing presence of hybrids in the short-term and electric vehicles in the long-term. However, NA OEMs are likely to continue with the diesel powertrain offering in the pick up truck segment, where the higher towing capacity and increased mileage justify the additional cost premium. For European OEMs, the investment in strong hybrids such as full-hybrids can be delayed, as diesel powertrain is a readily available solution. The use of emission reduction technologies such as DPF, SCR, lean-NOx trap (LNT), and EGR, ensures compliance to the emission norms. With advanced diesel technology being a key powertrain technology for European OEMs, the suitability of all existing diesel technologies to Euro6 is a significant advantage in meeting the stricter emission norms from the NOx and PM perspective. Further, European OEMs powertrain electrification is focused more on micro-hybrids making diesel powertrains significant.
Technologies
The following technologies are covered in this research:
- CRDi
- DPF
- EGR
- SCR
This Frost & Sullivan research service titled Analysis of Diesel Powertrain Outlook and Technology Roadmap in North America provides an in-depth analysis of the market drivers and restraints, industry trends, and competitive environment in addition to the challenges and issues faced by market participants. In this research, Frost & Sullivan's expert analysts thoroughly examine the diesel powertrain market including the impact of key diesel technologies such as common rail direct fuel injection (CRDi), diesel particulate filter (DPF), exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR).
Product samples
A sample for this product is available. Please Login/Register to download this sample.
|
|
|
|
