While the post below looks at the rising price of diesel at the pump, some good news was also revealed for proponents of the engine.

Both diesels and hybrids were added to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's study of fuel saving technologies.

The update came from a panel of outside experts working under the National Research Council. The data collected will help the NHTSA issue their new fuel economy standards by April 2009.

The panel said that with current engine development diesels can now meet federal emissions regulations. Diesels were left off the 2001 study because of air quality issues. Hybrids back in 2001 were considered just niche technology.

I guess the panel considers all-electric and fuel cell technology as niche, since they are left out of the current cycle of research.