Several commercial diesel cars such as today’s Euro-5 Volkswagen and Ford vehicles sold in Europe actually can deliver a better net life-cycle environmental impact than pure battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), according to a new study by the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology agency.

Colorado-based Proterra officials announced August 31 that they’ve developed a new electric transit-bus scheme that over the typical 12-year lifetime of the vehicle (including recharge station costs) could actually be cheaper than a conventional clean-diesel transit bus.

Mitsubishi officials announced last week that they’ll debut a diesel version of the Pajero sport-utility vehicle (SUV) in the Japan market on September 16.

The UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) announced August 31 that heavy goods vehicles (HGVs of more than 3.5 metric tons gross vehicle weight) hauled 13% fewer tons-kilometers of goods in 2009 versus 2008.

Audi officials reported September 1 that they set new records for vehicle sales in the U.S. market in August 2010, with “TDI” clean-diesel models showing more gains.

Caterpillar officials announced September 1 that they’re expanding backhoe and wheel loader machine capacity in Latin America and allowing for capacity expansion for other products made in Brazil.

Volkswagen of America officials announced September 1 that U.S. sales declined 7.9% in August 2010 compared to August 2009, but diesel car sales continue to climb.

Caltex officials announced August 30 that they’re proceeding with plans to boost diesel fuel supply in Western Australia in response to the area’s mining boom.

UOP officials announced September 1 that their “Unionfining” and “Unicracking” processes were selected for Rentech’s in-development “Rialto” biomass-to-liquids (BTL) project in California.

Australia-based Syngas Ltd. officials announced August 31 that they’ve won a share of an A$300,000 (US$272,000) grant from state government agency, Renewables South Australia, for crop investigations tied to a future biomass-to-liquids fuels plant.

According to the U.K.’s Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA), most of the biodiesel and ethanol sold in the British market doesn’t meet “green” standards for net greenhouse gas reduction.

Despite a US$645,000 Vermont state loan, the Biocardel Vermont biodiesel plant has shut down and the state has yet to recoup its money, according to a report from Burlington Free Press (Vermont).

Ultra low sulfur diesel prices in major world spot and futures markets began to diverge between Europe and North America last week.

ULSD spot and futures price movements diverged between North America and Europe last week.