Ford's idea of green

Good news from the Energy Saving Trust's website:

"A new carbon reduction method for diesel vehicles is set to be demonstrated on Ford's fleet of vehicles in the near future....To be trialed on Ford's Power Stroke diesel vehicles, the technology is hoped to reduce carbon emissions and increase engine torque."

Fantastic. But...

"Ford is set to unveil its 6.4-litre Power Stroke engine in its new F-Series pickup next year, which is set to be the company's cleanest ever diesel."

6.4 litres!!! If that's their idea of clean, I want to see what a really dirty Ford pickup looks like. Much like their current fleet, I suppose, which tells you how badly run and behind the times they have got.

I've got an idea. If you want to save energy and/or carbon, don't run a truck with a 6.4-litre engine.

My bet is that it will turn out this is about reducing carbon monoxide, not dioxide. You want to reduce carbon dioxide - run a smaller or more efficient engine. You're going to be lucky to get lower emissions of CO2 and more torque. It's not too hard to see, on the other hand how reburning carbon monoxide, if the engines were producing much, would do exactly what is claimed - reduce CO emissions and increase torque. That's just not "reducing carbon" in the sense that most people (including the EST) would understand it.