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Clean Diesel Vehicles

Jim Ellis Automotive started out as a Volkswagen dealership in 1971. It stands to reason that their TDI clean diesel technology would be one of the cornerstones of our green initiative.

The high-demand Volkswagen Jetta TDI has been named the "Green car of the Year" for several years running. In 2010, the Golf TDI won the same award!

The luxury Audi TDIs also win accolades for being fuel efficient, low-emission cars and SUVs. Jim Ellis Audi Atlanta has been promoting the TDI's sustainability via partnerships with other environmentally-conscious and causes, like the Ovie Mughelli foundation.



Click on a topic below to read more about TDI Clean Diesel:

Regular Diesel vs. Clean Diesel
  • Ultra Low-Sulfur Diesel fuel has been the industry standard since 2006.
  • Clean Diesel is 97% cleaner than Regular Diesel.

Diesel engines have a bad name in the US. The smoky, noisy, dirty connotations that are conjured are hard to equate with the newer cleaner, greener engines.

One of the biggest changes in diesel technology occurred with the development of ultra low-sulfur diesel (ULSD). ULSD fuel has been commonplace and mandated in Europe for years, and mandated by the EPA in the United States since 2007.

ULSD is more expensive to refine and produce than old-fashioned regular diesel, which is part of the reason why diesel fuel costs more at the pump. The reduced sulfur content makes this fuel 97% cleaner than its regular diesel cousin. 

Sulfur, a natural part of crude oil, is one of the key causes of particulates or soot in diesel emissions. Soot is the main culprit of diesel engines' noxious black exhaust fumes, and is among the prime contributors to air pollution. The move toward ULSD is intended to lower diesel engines' harmful exhaust emissions and ultimately, to improve air quality.

Additionally, Clean Diesel engines are also equipped with an emissions-reducing part called a "particulate filter". The particulate filter removes even more of that sulfurous soot from the vehicle emissions.

One cannot use regular diesel fuel in the clean diesel engine, however, it is possible to use bio-diesel with little or no modifications to reduce emissions even more. 

Still have questions about TDI? Click here to read more from VW.



Bio-Diesel Not Recommended in your TDI

  • Bio-diesel is not recommended by Volkswagen or Audi.
  • Speak with your service manager before switching, it could negate part of your warranty!

Though bio-diesel appears to be the way of the future - an alternative fuel approved by the EPA and the US DOT - it is not yet regulated in terms of fuel quality, consistency or particulates.

Because it has a different chemical make-up than ultra low-sulfur diesel (higher solvent ratio, different viscosity, and higher freeze-point), bio-diesel can quickly degrade rubber gaskets and hoses,  and because it has been known to break down deposits and build-up in fuel lines from petroleum-based diesel, fuel filters can clog quickly after making the switch to bio-diesel.

We know this is confusing, because Volkswagen TDIs are marketed as being approved for B5 (5% bio-diesel, 95% ULSD), and Audi TDIs are driven with bio-diesel in Europe.  This, however, is a result of the higher level of fuel regulation that occurs in Europe than the US. Currently in the US, there are backyard bio-diesel "refineries" with little to no regulatory monitoring.  

We look forward to a point in the future when our customers can use such a great product with ease and confidence, but unfortunately, we aren't there yet. 

As it stands now, using bio-diesel in a VW or Audi TDI vehicle is at the customer's risk. It might negate parts of the car's warranty, and any damage that occurs will have to come out of our customers' pockets.  For this reason alone, we do not recommend that our customers take this potentially expensive risk!



Diesel Fuel Efficiency

Because one drop of diesel fuel has 12% more power than one drop of gasoline, the typical diesel-powered vehicle will have 20% - 40% better fuel efficiency than a standard gas-powered vehicle, and will emit 10% - 30% fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Based on the greater level of fuel efficiency alone, a U.S. EPA analysis found that if one-third of Americans drove clean diesel vehicles, the US could reduce oil consumption by 1.5 million barrels per day (or the equivalent of planting 2.2 billion trees).



Environmental Impact

Not only can diesel engines (eventually) run on bio-diesel, but the TDI clean diesel is shown to reduce carbon emissions by 20% over gasoline. Of course, that's still contributing to smog - just less so.

However, existing infrastructure can be used to support an increase of diesel cars.  This means lower environmental impact along the entire supply chain, from the manufacture of parts, to the existing gasoline pumps, to mechanic's tools.

Essentially, clean diesel engines allow the automotive industry to reuse and recycle existing infrastructure, rather than have to buy new ways to support new technology. Plus, there is a long-term concern about of the hazardous waste created by electric and hybrid car batteries.

Between the fuel-efficiency innovations coming from the TDI line-up and the prospect of greater regulations of bio-diesel on the horizon, we look forward to a bright future with Clean Diesel!
Click on a Model below to read about the Clean Diesels from Jim Ellis:



Audi A3 TDI

The sporty Audi A3 TDIs get 30 mpg city and 42 mpg highway! Compare this to their non-diesel brethren that get 21 city / 30 highway, and you're looking at a fuel savings of almost $500 per year (even with the slightly higher price of diesel fuel!).   The Audi A3 won the Green Car's 2010 Green Car of the Year award.


Audi Q7 TDI

The large, luxurious Audi Q7 TDI SUVs (like the ones the Leows hotel uses for their customer shuttles) get 20 mpg city and 23 mpg highway without compromising towing capacity or torque. 

Compared to the non-TDI Q7 6-cylinder, which gets 14 city / 19 highway, you're looking at a savings of over $600 per year in gasoline alone.

There are two different packages available with the Q7 TDIs.  With the Q7 quattro TDI Premium Plus, you get Navigation, Rear Camera, LED Daytime running lights, Xenon headlights, panorama sunroof, auto dimming mirrors.  In addition to those features, with the Q7 quattro TDI Prestige you get upgraded 20" wheels, push button start and side assist.


Volkswagen Golf TDI

The VW Golf TDI is the winner of a 2010 "Green Car of the Year"  award in the UK for taking a hypermiling  marathon contest at a whopping 62 miles per gallon!   The Golf TDI is a small, fun to drive fuel sipper.  Check out the "Tank Wars" contest on the VW website to see some serious hypermilers.

The regular gasoline version of the Golf gets about 22 mpg city and 30 highway.  The TDI version? the EPA estimates an easy 30 mpg in the city, and 42 mpg on the highway.


Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Winner of several "Green Car of the Year" awards, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI is a very popular mid-sized sedan. While the 4-cylinder regular-gas automatic gets 21 miles per gallon in the city and 32 miles per gallon on the highway, the TDI clean diesel version of the same car gets 30 mpg city and 42 mpg highway, making it one of the most fuel efficient cars on the road today. 

The best part about the Jetta TDI? It still handles well and is fun to drive, even though it's a fuel sipper!


Volkswagen Touareg TDI

If an affordable SUV is what you're looking for, but you want mid-sized sedan fuel economy, then you might want to take a second glance at the VW Touareg TDI.  While the regular gas version gets a measly 14 city / 19 highway, the clean diesel version gets a respectable 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.


Green Vehicles From Jim Ellis:


Electric Vehicles

Clean Diesel Information

Clean Diesel Cars and SUVs

Hybrid Cars, Trucks and SUVs

FlexFuel Trucks and SUVs

High Mileage Cars (40+ mpg)

Contact Information

Jim Ellis Green

5901 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.

Atlanta, GA 30341
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(888) 690-4671



























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