The UK will, from April 2018, increase the amount of tax paid by those registering a diesel car for the first time that does not meet the latest emissions standards, the UK finance minister has revealed.
Even when they are powered exclusively by the “dirtiest” grid-provided electricity in the world, plug-in electric vehicles are responsible for a smaller greenhouse gas footprint than diesel cars are, according to a new lifecycle analysis from VUB University (Brussels) and Transport & Environment (T&E).
During the first half of 2017, sales figures for petrol/gas-powered cars in Europe surpassed those of diesel-powered cars, for the first time since back in 2009, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) has revealed.
Contrary to common political arguments for their use, diesel cars are actually responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions over a full lifecycle basis than gas/petrol cars are, according to a new analysis from Transport & Environment.
The largest union in Germany, IG Metall, has along with the car industry association VDA now called on Germany’s politicians and government to aid in the shift to electric vehicles — but also to not “force” the phaseout of internal combustion engine vehicles — according to recent reports.
The current Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, was recently quoted during a pre-election town hall event as saying that diesel cars remain a necessity for the time being if the Paris climate change conference goals are to be achieved.
Here’s a bit of good news on the air pollution front: Volkswagen diesel car owners in Germany will lose their vehicle registrations if they refuse to receive engine software updates to bring their cars in line with emissions standards, going by documents from the country’s motor vehicle watchdog KBA (as reported by Focus Online).
The most recent generation of Porsche diesel engines may be the last one, going by comments recently made by company CEO Oliver Blume in an interview with Reuters.
In other words, the company may be backing away from further development of diesel vehicles … or maybe the comments are simply meant as a PR stunt. Who knows as of yet?
The threat of citywide bans in various large cities in Europe seems to be slowly killing the diesel car market, going by recent sales figures in key markets there. In particular, diesel car sales in France and Spain have been falling particularly rapidly. And sales in other large markets such as the UK and Germany have seemingly been reacting to the threat of eventual outright bans as well, though a bit more slowly.
As a result of a number of different factors, likely including the fact that US authorities are currently investigating the possible use of “defeat devices” in the company’s diesel cars (defeat devices used to defraud regulators), Daimler has announced that it has dropped its plans to seek approval to sell 2017 Mercedes-Benz diesel models in the US, according to recent reports.
