Petrol and diesel car ban brought forward to 2035
Having initially committed to banning cars based on petrol, diesel or hybrid engines from 2040, UK prime minister Boris Johnson is now planning to implement the ban from 2035.
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Bristol City Council proposes diesel ban
Bristol City Council is proposing a diesel vehicle ban combined with a clean air zone charge as part of a “bold approach” to tackle air quality. This followed a six-week long public consultation in the summer when more than 5,000 responses were received.
Petrol, diesel top next car purchase list – Somo survey
Despite the environment being the biggest driver for switching to an electric vehicle, new research by digital transformation agency, Somo, has identified that the interest in petrol vehicles is not declining. In fact, over half would consider purchasing a petrol engine vehicle next, and, surprisingly, a quarter are still considering diesel engines.
Carmakers will look to ‘pool’ ahead of tough CO2 emission rules in Europe – GlobalData
As average vehicle CO2 emissions trend upwards in Europe, carmakers are looking to form ‘pools’ that can help avoid large fines under new tighter EU CO2 emission rules that come into force in 2021. Dave Leggett, automotive editor at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view.
New car discounts bigger on diesels than petrols… but only just
New car buyers can get the biggest savings off list prices on diesel cars according to the latest research by Britain’s leading consumer champion and new car buying platform, What Car? Analysis of the UK car market by What Car?’s Target Price mystery shoppers found the average discount on a new diesel car at the beginning of March was 7.82 per cent off the list price, or £2731. Discounts on diesel were only marginally higher than for petrol models, which stood at 7.11 per cent or £2101.
Diesel decline sees CO2 emissions rise
Average CO2 emissions have climbed almost three per cent to 124.5g/km, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has warned. The rise has been blamed on a diesel sales slump and experts say if CO2 emissions continue to rise it could have detrimental effects on the environment and also see countries miss their targets for slashing emissions.
New car diesel sales falling fast enough to cause potential shortages in future, says VRA
New diesel car sales are falling so quickly that there could be shortages of them on the used market in the near future, says the Vehicle Remarketing Association. The organisation, which represents companies that handle, sell, inspect, transport or manage more than 1.5 million used vehicles every year, says that while new car diesel demand has plummeted, corresponding used demand has stayed relatively firm.
New electric motor for milk tankers reduces emissions
Lots of carbon dioxide is emitted unnecessarily every time tankers arrive at farms to collect milk. This is because the trucks use their oversized diesel engines to drive the pump that fills the tank. Technology company Semcon has now developed an electrical system for the milk pump that will reduce diesel consumption for a single truck by up to 5,000 litres per year. Noise and emissions at farms will also be reduced.
John Lewis Partnership to phase out all diesel heavy trucks by 2028
The John Lewis Partnership will switch from diesel-powered heavy trucks to 100 per cent renewable biomethane-powered versions by 2028, a move the company states will cut its HGV emissions by more than 80 per cent.
Porsche to stop making diesel cars in favour of electric and hybrid
Porsche is the latest vehicle manufacturer to announce that it is to stop producing diesel cars. It follows a 2015 scandal in which its parent company, Volkswagen, admitted it had cheated emissions tests for diesel engines. The Porsche chief executive said the company was “not demonising diesel”.
Greenpeace anti-diesel campaigners hold blockade at Volkswagen UK HQ
Greenpeace anti-diesel campaigners held a peaceful protest aimed at blocking Volkswagen staff from entering the company’s head office in Milton Keynes on 20 August. Representatives from the organisation, which is demanding the manufacturer stops producing diesel cars, arrived at 7am and set up a ‘diesel pollution clinic’ outside the building’s entrance.
SMMT urges government to back new-tech diesel following market decline, uncertainty
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is urging the UK government to act to support the sale of traditionally fuelled vehicles following the news that the UK new car market declined moderately in June. Year-on-year demand fell by -3.5 per cent, the SMMT stated, as 234,945 new cars joined British roads, representing relative stabilisation considering recent turbulence over the past year or so. While alternatively fuelled vehicle sales continue to rise, they are not yet at a level that can relieve the decline in traditionally fuelled vehicle sales, and the SMMT argues for government to provide increased support for petrol and especially new technology diesel vehicles.
Call to bring forward UK total ban on petrol and diesel cars
The UK is committed to a total ban on the sale of all petrol and diesel cars by 2040, but, in its annual progress report to Parliament, the Committee on Climate Change has suggested that this is too late and should be imposed a decade earlier, in 2030.
VW diesel scandal – Audi manager under arrest
Investigators in the VW diesel scandal have taken a high-level manager into custody. Audi boss Rupert Stadler was detained on Monday due to the danger of evidence being suppressed. Stadler’s position at the top of the senior VW subsidiary and thus also on the VW Board, will be taken temporarily by the Dutchman Bram Schot, provided this is approved by the Audi board of trustees. The German press agency has discovered this through trusted informants. The 56 year old has been sales director at Audi for about nine months.
German government gets tough with Daimler and VW over emissions
The German government has ordered car maker Daimler to recall 238,000 vehicles in Germany after they were found to be fitted with illegal software that masks diesel emissions.
