Britain to be Diesel-Free by 2030 as Electric Cars Take Over
A new analysis suggests that battery electric cars will surpass diesel vehicles on UK roads by 2030, with London poised to become the first city in the country to go diesel-free. The prediction comes as the number of diesel cars on British roads has fallen by 21% since its peak in 2014, with electric car sales continuing to rise albeit at a slower pace.
Diesel vehicles have long been a staple of UK roads, but they come with a significant environmental cost. Not only do they produce more nitrogen oxides, which can exacerbate respiratory problems like asthma, but the widespread use of cheaper tax rates for diesel cars in the 2000s led to an "ugly chapter" in the industry's history - known as Dieselgate. The scandal, in which Volkswagen was found to have used software to cheat on emissions tests, resulted in billions of pounds in fines and compensation.
Despite this, diesel vehicles remain popular among some rural residents who are selling their cars to city-dwellers looking for cleaner alternatives. However, the analysis by New AutoMotive suggests that these numbers will eventually fall as older diesel vehicles reach the end of their lives.
In contrast, electric car sales have been accelerating rapidly in recent years, and experts believe this trend will continue. "The UK is now rolling out electric cars at a rapid pace, and this is great news for everyone that enjoys clean air, quieter streets, and really cheap running costs," said Ben Nelmes, the chief executive of New AutoMotive.
As Britain makes its transition to cleaner transportation options, urban areas like London will be at the forefront. The city's ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) has already seen a significant drop in diesel vehicles on the road, with no end in sight to its expansion. Edinburgh and Glasgow are also set to follow suit, as both cities establish low-emission zones.
According to experts, this shift away from diesel is essential for tackling Britain's choking cities and improving air quality. "Ending the use of diesel is essential to clean up Britain's choking cities," said Matt Finch, an environmental policy expert who co-wrote the report. "The world is leaving the diesel age - no one is denying that diesel hasn't been useful, but it has had its day."
A new analysis suggests that battery electric cars will surpass diesel vehicles on UK roads by 2030, with London poised to become the first city in the country to go diesel-free. The prediction comes as the number of diesel cars on British roads has fallen by 21% since its peak in 2014, with electric car sales continuing to rise albeit at a slower pace.
Diesel vehicles have long been a staple of UK roads, but they come with a significant environmental cost. Not only do they produce more nitrogen oxides, which can exacerbate respiratory problems like asthma, but the widespread use of cheaper tax rates for diesel cars in the 2000s led to an "ugly chapter" in the industry's history - known as Dieselgate. The scandal, in which Volkswagen was found to have used software to cheat on emissions tests, resulted in billions of pounds in fines and compensation.
Despite this, diesel vehicles remain popular among some rural residents who are selling their cars to city-dwellers looking for cleaner alternatives. However, the analysis by New AutoMotive suggests that these numbers will eventually fall as older diesel vehicles reach the end of their lives.
In contrast, electric car sales have been accelerating rapidly in recent years, and experts believe this trend will continue. "The UK is now rolling out electric cars at a rapid pace, and this is great news for everyone that enjoys clean air, quieter streets, and really cheap running costs," said Ben Nelmes, the chief executive of New AutoMotive.
As Britain makes its transition to cleaner transportation options, urban areas like London will be at the forefront. The city's ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) has already seen a significant drop in diesel vehicles on the road, with no end in sight to its expansion. Edinburgh and Glasgow are also set to follow suit, as both cities establish low-emission zones.
According to experts, this shift away from diesel is essential for tackling Britain's choking cities and improving air quality. "Ending the use of diesel is essential to clean up Britain's choking cities," said Matt Finch, an environmental policy expert who co-wrote the report. "The world is leaving the diesel age - no one is denying that diesel hasn't been useful, but it has had its day."
. I mean, we've all heard of the pollution in cities and how bad it can be for your health. But I'm like, who cares about the past when you can have a cleaner future? Like, Ben Nelmes said, "The UK is now rolling out electric cars at a rapid pace..." And that's like, amazing news for us Brits 
! We're already seeing this shift happen in cities and I think it's gonna change everything. Edinburgh and Glasgow are getting in on the action too? That's like, awesome 
! We gotta protect our air and make sure everyone can breathe easily 
! The UK finally decides to kick those dirty diesel cars to the curb 
. It's about time too - have you seen the state of London's air quality lately? Not great 
. But seriously, electric cars are where it's at and I'm so down for that 
I mean, yeah, it's great that we're moving away from diesel and all that, but are we just jumping into a new tech problem? Like, battery production is already straining resources and whatnot. And have you seen the prices of these fancy electric cars? Not exactly cheap, if you know what I mean 
. Plus, I've got some friends in the countryside who swear by their diesel vehicles - they're not gonna just ditch 'em for a fancy new car that's still gotta charge up regularly. 
Still, I guess it's a step in the right direction... but let's see how this all plays out before we all rush off to buy our e-cars 
I don't know, man... sounds like a conspiracy to me! 
And what about all the rural areas who are losing their diesel cars? Are they just gonna get left behind in the dirt? 
. I'm not saying diesel is perfect or anything (Ugh, remember that whole Dieselgate scandal?), but it's still got its uses. And what about the people who can't afford those fancy electric cars? It feels like we're pushing out one problem only to create another 
.
. Electric cars are the way to go, no question. And let's be real, who doesn't want a quieter street and cheaper running costs? 
. I've got a mate who just sold their old diesel car and now they're saving so much on fuel costs! It's all about making that switch and creating a cleaner, greener future for our cities 
did you know that diesel vehicles produce more nitrogen oxides than any other type of vehicle? 
I'm low-key excited to see what kind of impact this will have on air quality and pollution levels in these cities 
and electric car sales are growing by 20% YoY 
We ended up chatting with the owner for hours, and it was so nice to see people still supporting local businesses. I swear, it's not just about electric cars being better or whatever... it's about community and stuff too 
so finally we're gonna get rid of those toxic diesel trucks that are literally killing people in London. I mean, who needs that kind of air quality, right? 
.