Are Diesel Cars The Next Dodo?

American humorist and literary critic, Will Cuppy once said, “The Dodo never had a chance. He seems to have been invented for the sole purpose of becoming extinct and that was all he was good for.”

The Mauritian Dodo (Raphus cucullatus by its scientific name) may have begged to differ - that is, before the entire species was hunted out of existence, and last sighted in 1662. A mealtime favourite for sailors, the dodo was easy to hunt and readily available - in some ways quite like diesel fuel, which has been an easy to produce and, readily available resource for drivers of diesel cars across the globe.

As the difficulty of extraction and cost-per-barrel rise across the globe, will diminishing returns for the oil industry and constant environmental pressures lead to the diesel car sharing a fate similar to the dodo?

Higher costs for diesel drivers in the UK

As part of London's ‘Ultra Low Emissions Zone’ policy, the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson is considering a £10 charge for any diesel drivers who drive into central London from 2020. He has also lobbied central government to increase taxes on diesel.

Air quality and pollution related medical complaints in the UK are definitely one of the latest ‘hot topics’ for many industry commentators and media as they reflect on the impact such issues are having on the health of the nation. For more information on this topic, read: Improving Air Quality and Reducing Transport Related Pollution.

Senior research fellow at the thinktank Policy Exchange, Simon Moore said, "For too long people have been encouraged to buy diesel vehicles, which while slightly better for the climate are far worse for local air quality. The mayor's proposal to charge diesel drivers extra to come to places where pollution is worst should help end this dire health problem. It gives a clear sign that polluters should pay."

The Liberal Democrats however went a step further than the Mayor of London in their ‘Green Manifesto’ last year, which proposed the ban of all diesel and petrol cars by 2040, allowing only electric and ultra-low emission vehicles on the roads.

France lead the way in ditching diesel

As part of an environmental effort launched this year, France’s prime minister, Manuel Valls promises to wean the country off diesel after admitting that the country’s reliance on the fuel was a ‘mistake’.

'In France, we have long favoured the diesel engine,' the Prime Minister said. 'This was a mistake, and we will progressively undo that, intelligently and pragmatically.'

More than 30 million cars currently run on diesel in France today, according to the latest figures from the World Bank - approximately 80 percent of the total on the road.

With the government’s focus shifting from the economy to air pollution, French cars will be subject to a pollution rating this year, ultimately facilitating the banning of high polluting cars from the roads. Drivers trading high polluting cars for electric models may also be eligible for monetary incentives for making the switch.