United Kingdom

Diesel’s uncertain future

The problems surrounding diesel cars have been well known for a long time and show no signs of slowing down. Many cities, including Paris, Madrid and Mexico City, have even announced plans to mitigate air pollution by banning diesel cars by 2025.

Allianz in their recent article ‘Is diesel running on empty’ have analysed this issue and the alternatives that exist. Their conclusion does not see a way back for the diesel engine, “The introduction of better particulate filters feels like the industry putting a plaster on the problem until a suitable solution emerges. Consumer confidence has never been lower, countries and manufacturers are also turning their back on it.”

This argument is further supported by a recent test by independent consumer body Which?. They tested 61 modern diesel cars, and found 47 of them (77%) exceeded the Euro 6 limit of 0.08g/km of NOx (oxides of nitrogen), despite conforming to the official standards.