More Diesel Dismalness

[Custard]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42615559


The drip, drip, drip of negative news isn't stopping.

Here's what I find puzzling though,

1. SUV's are growing in popularity, that's the type of car that people increasingly want
2. The size and weight of SUV's means diesel engines are crucial for the majority of owners
3. People are turning away from diesels

I just can't square that circle.

[VanB]

There isn't a problem with Euro6 diesels currently but I also read that the diesel market is on its way to only 15% of the market which I find bizarre.

[nsm3]

If the Government want to pay me £65k scrappage allowance, I will get out of mine for them!

[John_M]

There isn't a problem with Euro6 diesels currently but I also read that the diesel market is on its way to only 15% of the market which I find bizarre.

A study where someone probably put in the figures from this year and projected the line to 2025 at which point it crossed the 15% line - thus giving them the headline to get attention and push their message and get further funding, or maybe I am just too cynical about education and the publish at all costs mentality that has been pushed on it.

[nsm3]

I read that JLR have written to HM Gov about the negative reporting surrounding diesels. Of the 530k vehicles they make, 20% stay in the UK and sales are being crippled. They are talking possible job losses etc. I live near(ish)/know guys in the Solihull plant and it is a real concern.

[Macandriver]

Surely JLR could switch production to petrol, if that’s what their customers want.

The way I see it is that many people were enticed to diesels through tax breaks etc when diesels were not the right engines for their driving requirements and the current mood will rebalance that somewhat. Ultimately both diesel and petrol will be phased out.

[Paul]

But how will Europe meet its’ CO2 targets if petrol engines (re) become the dominant force?
One of the main reasons diesel fuel was incentivised by governments was because of its’ performance relative to petrol with regard to green house gasses.


(I think I posted this link elsewhere, for what it’s worth....http://www.independent.co.uk/news/busin ... 30031.html)

[rossman999]

I really do blame the politicians for the total mess we find our self in and it is really up to them to get us out of it - heaven help us!!!!!

Diesels have been bought by people who really should not have bought them as they do short journeys or chug through city traffic - but they are the ideal fuel choice for many users and vehicles. You basically have a choice Polar bears or babies which one do you want to kill!!!

Both Petrol & Diesel have been put on notice by the politicians without any viable alternative for most people as currently it is only the Tesla that offers a reasonable alternative - yet its cost rules that out for a mass market car.

Its a total mess and with the current headless chickens in power there is very little chance of a sensible strategy being developed in the foreseeable future.

[martin5789]

Taxing people into small petrol engined vehicles is the only short term strategy that might work. But not going to happen in the lifetime of this government. Thank goodness

[Deleted User 1874]

But how will Europe meet its’ CO2 targets if petrol engines (re) become the dominant force?
One of the main reasons diesel fuel was incentivised by governments was because of its’ performance relative to petrol with regard to green house gasses.

Well if you look at medium and long term CO2 targets, according to the recent and credible MIT study on lifetime vehicle emissions, only a complete switch to BEVs gets close to meeting those targets and even that falls somewhat short. So in reality these targets are more or less unachievable and it becomes a question of damage limitation.

At some point in the future people will need to realise that we can't all continue tooling around in large SUVs just because we feel like it. Probably not in my lifetime though.