Why doesn't the U.S. Allow the turbo diesel smartcar be sold here?

Question

The turbo diesel smartcar is sold in Canada but not here It gets 55-60mpg. Remember this is the turbo diesel model, not just diesel.

Answer 1

It has to meet our ridiculously strict emissions standards -- cold start, warm-up, normal operating temps, high speed, idle, traffic stop & go, etc, etc, etc. If the engine fails even one parameter of these tests it can't be certified so it's off to the programmers for more fine tuning, adjustments, bigger catalytic converter, more sensors, etc. I read that the Smart TD (and a whole crop of other diesels) are being certified as we speak and will soon be on sale here in the U.S.  55mpg is probably unatainable for the Smart but I'm sure the diesel engine will be a vast improvement over the petrol version we have now.

Answer 2

I'm not sure exactly why this is, but about 50 million people live in California.  They have created a huge wreck of the environment there.  Yet, amazingly, some people there pretend to care about the environment, even while they are obviously causing a huge area of environmental destruction.

For some strange reason, this bizarre situation dictates quite a lot of our environmental laws.  I know with a democracy there's always the danger of getting what you deserve, but this is much worse than that.  It's rule by nuts.

Answer 3

Not just the smart TD, but other diesel cars.