UK business secretary says there’s still a place for diesel

Following our look at alternative fuels last week, now seems a good time to consider the prospects for diesel.

There have been a few notable developments recently, not least business secretary, Greg Clark, telling the FT Future of the Car Summit, “there’s still a place for diesel.”

That made headlines, but the fuller quotes provide a better picture, especially in the context of the upcoming Road To Zero report on cutting emissions:

“It would be wrong for people to think that holding onto an existing diesel vehicle, rather than upgrading to a much more environmentally friendly new one, is a good step for the planet,“ he said.

“If you’re driving a diesel-powered car long distances, then that’s a very different impact than in the city.

“What we’ll set out in the report is how different choices may be right for different people in different circumstances.”

Many in the motor trade feel that diesel was unfairly demonised in the wake of the VW emissions scandal.

Bosch, which supplies components to a host of big name carmakers, says its engineers have refined existing technologies to dramatically reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.

Dr Volkmar Denner, chief executive officer of Bosch, commented: “We want to put a stop, once and for all, to the debate about the demise of diesel technology.

“Bosch is pushing the boundaries of what is technically feasible. Equipped with the latest Bosch technology, diesel vehicles will be classed as low-emission and yet remain affordable.”

Auto Trader reports that the average price for a diesel used car rose 5% in April. However, only half of all searches are currently for diesel, down from a high of 71% in November 2016.

The average price of a used diesel was £14,555 in April, up £102 on the previous month and £939 on the same month a year earlier.

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