Is the future of diesel cars as bleak as they paint it?

In recent years, diesel cars have been at the center of the news storm, and that is because, apparently, they are considered to pollute far more than petrol cars. That, as we have already seen in other articles, is not exactly the case. Although the diesel engine is indeed more harmful to human health due to particulate emissions, current diesel cars are equipped with systems that eliminate that risk. There is even talk that petrol engines have become much more problematic over the last few years.

So, in light of the news about the ban on driving diesel cars in major cities, many questions arise that cast doubt on the continued existence of diesel cars in markets across Europe. But we can rest assured, because diesel cars still have plenty of life left and will remain on our streets. The real problem lies with diesel cars manufactured before 2006. From that date onward, all of them incorporate various systems for eliminating polluting gases, which make them much cleaner and safer cars.

In fact, any car with a diesel engine manufactured today emits up to 30% less carbon dioxide and 85% less nitrogen dioxide than a similar car from 20 years ago, according to data recorded by manufacturers. It must also be taken into account that diesel engines emit less carbon dioxide than petrol engines, which is responsible for the greenhouse effect, whereas diesel engines emit nitrogen dioxide, which causes the polluting clouds in cities. Thanks to the measures introduced with the Euro 6 standard, in force since 2014, cars have become cleaner, and work has not stopped on reducing these polluting emissions even further.

Petrol engines are also beginning to come under the scrutiny of the authorities, and particulate filters are even being added to reduce their emissions too. So diesel engines will continue to be a technological alternative for anyone who wants to enjoy the advantages of a diesel engine. That said, the government plans to raise taxes on diesel, and this will make the price of gasoil equal to that of petrol, which will eliminate one of the advantages it has over petrol. Even so, consumption remains lower than in the case of petrol engines.

The diesel cars that will face serious problems driving in certain places will be those manufactured before 2006, so diesel cars manufactured after that date are, in principle, free of problems. And the more recent they are, the fewer problems they will have. Technology has allowed a polluting vehicle like the diesel car to escape that problem and become much cleaner.

Electric cars and those running on alternative fuels are expected to gradually gain market share, so diesels remain a good alternative to petrol engines. At least for the next 30 years, we will continue to have diesel engines on the market, increasingly clean and efficient, until they are replaced by electric vehicles or those using any other viable alternative fuel. This is what can be read in a sales trends report from the online car sales website Trive, so we can be reassured if we choose to buy a diesel car in the coming years.