Comments on: Europe’s love affair with diesel

By: dish network

dish network — Wed, 21 Apr 2004 05:36:39 +0000

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By: vaara

vaara — Thu, 22 Jan 2004 19:31:16 +0000

However, it now occurs to me that gasoline engines can be modified to run on ethanol too.

By: vaara

vaara — Thu, 22 Jan 2004 19:28:55 +0000

Another argument in favor of “dieselization” is the fact that many (if not all) diesel engines can run on non-petroleum fuel, such as vegetable oil, the fancy name for which is “biodiesel” (though used frituurolie works too).

By: Mrs Tilton

Mrs Tilton — Wed, 21 Jan 2004 20:04:18 +0000

There’s a trade-off, even in countries like Germany where diesel is enormously popular. Unlike diesels, petrol-engined cars in Germany enjoy an exemption from vehicle tax for the first few years (supposedly because diesel emissions are more harmful). Caeteris paribus, a diesel makes economic sense only if one does a lot of driving (as the lower fuel costs then offset the higher tax burden). We recently bought a car and, because we don’t drive much, went for a Benziner.

By: John

John — Wed, 21 Jan 2004 03:47:00 +0000

Historically, there are 2 different reasons why diesel has been popular in the past, and has revived and increased its popularity for the last decade or so:

1) PAST: diesel fuel is cheaper, so many people bought diesels as family saloons, as a cheaper solution.

2) PRESENT DAY: diesel engines has more than equalled its performance in comparison to regular gasoline engines, so any advantage the gasoline engines had in the past over diesels, i.e. more power, more sporty drive, has been eradicated by the new generation diesels. I would believe that is the main reason why diesel is gaining increasing popularity. The days that diesels were for only for dads with lots of kids and trucks are long gone.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Wed, 21 Jan 2004 02:58:50 +0000

I’ve done some work on this in the past so what I say above does hold. This site backs me up, except for the Netherlands which is the exact opposite. Hopefully that is a new thing…

http://www.see-search.com/business/fuelandpetrolpriceseurope.htm

ps I don’t agree with the rest of the content on the site linked to, btw.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Wed, 21 Jan 2004 02:54:02 +0000

As far as I am aware it is mainly due to a larger differential (due to tax) on diesel and petrol fuel (the Netherlands has a small differential and has fewer diesel cars too), and that French car firms, which dominate the market, make make very good diesel cars (which obviously to some degree is a function of large diesel sales, but they probably boost each other).

By: Antoni Jaume

Antoni Jaume — Wed, 21 Jan 2004 02:35:55 +0000

Bob, I reckon it may have to do with the difficulty to start a diesel engine in low temperature weather. In as much I know, current diesel engine are a lot easier to start, but once the preference have been set, it is hard to sway the prejudice against diesel: y’know everyboby knows that diesel don’t start well.

DSW

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 21 Jan 2004 01:45:16 +0000

Matt - Thanks for posting up that illuminating piece on diesel penetration of the European car market. What I’ve never been altogether clear on is why diesel penetration is so much higher in countries like France than it is in Britain. Suggested explanations would be appreciated.

By: Raj

Raj — Tue, 20 Jan 2004 22:44:52 +0000

I believe that in the US it is much harder to get low emission Diesel. Because of this the new high performance common rail diesels are not being introduced in the US.