It’s interesting the debate over diesel engines. We all know the story: European regulators signposted emissions targets for vehicle manufacturers, and, combined with domestic motor taxation policies which benefited lower emission vehicles the public switched their allegiances – from petrol to diesel. Now, the tide is moving the other way. In the last few days we’ve seen this development from two different perspectives.

First, as we advocated 18 months ago, in a widely reported press release, petrol aspirated vehicles are more affordable than comparable diesels in many cases. We said petrol engines were in position for a comeback – we appeared live on RTÉ television and across various radio stations predicting it at the time. The simple fact was that retail prices for brand new petrol cars had dropped significantly, as demand was less, and, combined with improved efficiency and lower emissions there was no reason not to consider a new petrol engined car again. Only the question of residual values (or “depreciation”) was holding the petrol car back a little -but we all know market values can rise and fall in-line with consumer demand. In today’s Irish Times Cartell Director Jeff Aherne is quoted as saying:

The fundamentals are strong for petrol vehicles; emissions are much lower than they were, consequently taxation is lower, and fuel economy has improved considerably, meaning petrol cars should be much more competitive in the market – especially when you consider the lower list prices for petrol engines across the board.

(Cartell.ie Director Jeff Aherne in The Irish Times today)

 Second, the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, is reported by the BBC this week as saying she wants to ban diesel cars and the pollution they bring from the streets of the French capital. The BBC says opinion on diesel cars has swung widely: though originally seen as a more efficient fuel than petrol, they were considered as noisy and dirty. Diesel cars were then fitted with a trap to catch the particles of smoke associated with the fuel. Several governments rewarded that move but the policy has backfired.

The BBC says: “First, there have been problems with the particle traps – some drivers have removed them because they sometimes don’t work properly unless the car is driven hot. Second, the diesels are still producing nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which irritates the lungs of people with breathing problems. Diesels make several times more NO2 than petrol cars. Now, in order to meet European air pollution laws, politicians are being forced into an embarrassing U-turn, telling drivers that they’ve decided they don’t much like diesels after all. MPs in the UK have mooted a scrappage scheme for diesel cars, while the mayor of Paris has called for a ban.” (as reported by BBC News)