(July 31, 2011) WASHINGTON (PRNewswire-USNewswire/) — The new fuel economy standards for automobile and light trucks proposed Friday by the Obama administration are expected to expand the opportunity for more  clean diesel cars, light trucks and SUVs in the U.S., according to Allen Schaeffer, the Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum.

Schaeffer said fuel-efficient clean diesel technology is expected to "play an expanded role in improving fuel economy of the fleet needed to achieve the 54.5 mpg level by 2025 as mandated by the new greenhouse gas and fuel efficiency standards.

"Meeting these challenging new fuel efficiency targets will require many different technology solutions and we're more confident than ever that clean diesel technology is going to be one of those solutions. Only time will tell if the American consumer is ready for plug-in electric, natural gas, or propane powered vehicles on a larger scale, but they are already telling us loud and clear today that they are ready for more clean diesel technology by their choices in showrooms.

"Already in 2011, we've seen impressive increases in U.S. clean diesel auto sales," Schaeffer said.  "In May, U.S. diesel car sales skyrocketed 34 percent higher than in May 2010.  This followed the 46 percent increase in U.S. diesel sales in March 2011 over March 2010."

In Europe, nearly 50 percent of all the automobiles on the streets today are diesel cars due to their high fuel efficiency, low emissions and long-term durability.  While a more modest three percent of cars and light trucks in America are diesel at this moment, these new fuel efficiency targets will dramatically increase the number and kinds of choices of clean diesel cars available to U.S. drivers, Schaeffer predicted.

Ultra low sulfur clean diesel fuel is more widely available in the U.S. at more stations than ever before — more than 52 percent of all stations, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.