Four major cities pledge to ban diesel engines over safety fears

makadu wrote:

I think you have all failed to keep up with evolving technology.

London is going to introduce an Ultra Low Emissions Zone, which whilst not a ban will charge polluting cars on top of the existing congestion charge.

The latest Euro 6 diesels will be exempt as they have emissions comparable to petrol engines.

I am in favor of reducing emissions but lets do just that and target an emissions level rather than one particular fuel type - older petrol cars are more polluting than latest technology diesels.

 

OK, fair point...but that presumes the official 'emission figures' of those vehicles are accurate. At this point there seems to be good reason to have doubts about that. The past record inspires no confidence whatsoever.

I'd like to see more on-the-spot emissions testing. Especially of those vehicles you occasionally encounter with clouds of foul-smelling black smoke coming out the exhaust. Why are those guys not stopped by the police?

ianrobo wrote:

I lease my car and my next one will be an hybrid one though despite dropping down a car size it will cost me nearly as much that is what I am prepared to do.

As said before by some all it takes for evil to win is for the good to do nothing ... the evil in this case are the likes of those who support Trump, UKIP etc who belive it is fine increasing car travel.

 

Gosh, the sacrifices we make...

ClubSmed wrote:

Have I missed something about diesel engines vs petrol? I thought that usually diesel engines were less pollutant than petrol but the above mentions just re diesel being banned in these cities

Diesel engines have lower CO2 emissions than petrol.   The trouble is that diesel engines also emit far more particulates.   So you have a choice of global warning or respiratory disease.

. . wrote:

ClubSmed wrote:

Have I missed something about diesel engines vs petrol? I thought that usually diesel engines were less pollutant than petrol but the above mentions just re diesel being banned in these cities

Diesel engines have lower CO2 emissions than petrol.   The trouble is that diesel engines also emit far more particulates.   So you have a choice of global warning or respiratory disease.

But the difference in CO2 emissions isn't that big. The difference in toxic pollution is much bigger making the choice straightforward for me, even though petrols are more expensive to run due to decades of idiotic government policy.

DaveE128 wrote:

. . wrote:

ClubSmed wrote:

Have I missed something about diesel engines vs petrol? I thought that usually diesel engines were less pollutant than petrol but the above mentions just re diesel being banned in these cities

Diesel engines have lower CO2 emissions than petrol.   The trouble is that diesel engines also emit far more particulates.   So you have a choice of global warning or respiratory disease.

But the difference in CO2 emissions isn't that big. The difference in toxic pollution is much bigger making the choice straightforward for me, even though petrols are more expensive to run due to decades of idiotic government policy.

I am so glad I asked the question, I was completely unaware of this. I currently drive a diesel and was half considering getting the same next year instead of a hybrid but I'll definitely go for a hybrid now.
Thanks for the info

DaveE128 wrote:

. . wrote:

ClubSmed wrote:

Have I missed something about diesel engines vs petrol? I thought that usually diesel engines were less pollutant than petrol but the above mentions just re diesel being banned in these cities

Diesel engines have lower CO2 emissions than petrol.   The trouble is that diesel engines also emit far more particulates.   So you have a choice of global warning or respiratory disease.

But the difference in CO2 emissions isn't that big. The difference in toxic pollution is much bigger making the choice straightforward for me, even though petrols are more expensive to run due to decades of idiotic government policy.

Yup. And apparently petrol engines have improved considerably since the stupid decsision to incentivise diesel, making the situation even more absurd.
And it seems as if every other month they discover a new awful effect of diesel particulates on health.

The way to reduce CO2 emissions is to get people to drive less, not to use different fuel.
Besides, I'm no climate-change denier, but I am deeply pessimistic about it. I don't really believe much is going to be done about it, globally. In the meantime, before London is reduced to a few superskyscrapers poking out from the flood-waters (and millionaires floating drowned in their mega-basements) I'd at least like to be able to breath without choking.

ClubSmed wrote:

Have I missed something about diesel engines vs petrol? I thought that usually diesel engines were less pollutant than petrol but the above mentions just re diesel being banned in these cities

Yes, you've missed something! Diesels pump out particulates and nitrous oxides that are killing tens of tgousands of people a year in the UK. The only thing they have going for them environmentally is that they give out *slightly* less CO2. Both diesels and petrol engines are damaging to the climate, but diesels are far, far worse for air pollution.

This is why I flatly refuse to buy a diesel. I also try to minimise car use but with kids in the UK it's hard to avoid completely due to lack of family friendly cycling infrastructure.

The issues with diesel aren't even a new revelation - see this article from 2014:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/aug/06/diesel-scandal-cheap...