Diesel Cars Finally Given The Axe In Europe?

October 16th, 2013 by Zachary Shahan

Unlike in the US, for a long time, diesel engines have been quite widely used across Europe. However, as pollution limits are getting stronger and advanced anti-pollution technology is getting more expensive, the projection is that diesel automobiles will see a downward trend.

Photo Credit: Steve Parker / Foter / CC BY

Autocar reports: “Joe Bakaj, head of product development for Ford of Europe, said the costs of meeting the Euro 6 and expected Euro 7 pollution regulations would be a major problem, as would the possibility of reduced petrol refining capacity in Europe. This would force up the price of diesel, a by-product of the process. He also questioned the longevity of the tax advantages of buying diesel in some EU countries.”

At the moment, the EU average for diesel’s percentage of automobile sales is 55%. In the UK it is down to 50%, while it is about 70% in Spain and France. But the trend should see diesel sales dropping in all of these countries over time.

“Europe exports a lot of petrol to the US, but if the demand falls, a lot of refining capacity could be taken out of the system, driving up diesel prices,” said Bakaj. “There’s also the cost of exhaust after-treatment systems for the upcoming EU6.1 and EU6.2. The latter has more onerous limits on emissions of NOx and particulates.

“It is much cheaper to get petrol engines through EU6.2; with diesel engines we need technology such as selective catalyst reduction systems, and costs increase again with heavier vehicles.”

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Tags: diesel, diesel EU, diesel europe, EU, EU diesel pollution, EU fuel, EU fuel economy standards, EU pollution, EU pollution limits, Europe

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Zachary Shahan spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as the director/chief editor. Otherwise, he's probably enthusiastically fulfilling his duties as the director/editor of Solar Love, EV Obsession, Planetsave, or Bikocity. Zach is recognized globally as a solar energy, electric car, and wind energy expert. If you would like him to speak at a related conference or event, connect with him via social media. You can connect with Zach on any popular social networking site you like. Links to all of his main social media profiles are on ZacharyShahan.com.

revoltman

This article is misleading. Todays new diesel engines are cleaner than petrol engines. They are a lot quiter than before. They are more efficient hence less fuel consumption.
DIESEL IS THE FUTURE !!!
I see that americans havent experienced the new diesels and talk a lot of 1960’s trash.
- Bob_Wallace
  
  Allcaps shouting is not the future here.
  
  http://cleantechnica.com/cleantechnica-comment-policy/
  
  Diesels are probably going to have a short time in the spotlight. But they almost certainly will be replaced by electrics.
  - revoltman
    
    Agreed, Electric is the ultimate.
    But till we reach there Diesel is the correct answer, not petrol. I have studied mechanical engg & I know the truth. I was just frustrated at all the MISINFORMATION being spread here.
    - Bob_Wallace
      
      I know you’re abusing the caps lock key.
      
      Before diesel becomes the answer we’re going to have to first deal with the health problems.
Doug

I might have a more positive respect for diesel if I didn’t choke on the horrible exhaust coming out of most of the diesels that I smell on the roads. I’m sure the brand, spanking new diesel engines are very clean…but what happens after five years and 100,000 miles?
jmdesp

I’m not sure the analysis is correct. Gasoline direct injection engines generate a fine particle amount that results in a requirement for filtering in order to meet the Euro 5 and above norms, just as well as diesel engine. So those engines can’t hope to be cheap because no filtering will be needed.

Critics against diesel usually consider only older, obsolete engines. You will see nothing behind a modern diesel engine that accelerates from a stop light.

Actually the soon to come change in eco-bonus in France that requires a very low CO2 emissions rate is likely to favor diesel rather than gasoline (I agree it’s stupid for anybody who doesn’t drive a lot of kilometers each year).
geoff nairn

Cant wait. I live in crisis-hit spain which has historically favored diesel and now has a large fleet of ageing diesel cars that their owners cant afford to renew. Drivers dont see the clouds of particulate pollution but pedestrians and cyclists do, particularly when an old & badly-maintained diesel cars accelerates away from stop lights. If Rudolf Diesel had invented his engine today, its use in cities would be banned on health grounds.
- A Real Libertarian
  
  If Rudolf Diesel had invented his engine today, it would be electric.
  - geoff nairn
    
    Electric vehicles already existed in Diesel’s time. See pic of the Lohner-Porsche Electromobile.
    I suspect that he would be working on hydrogen power instead.
    - A Real Libertarian
      
      Yeah, so they existed then, so what?
      We’re talking about now.