The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has today launched a nationwide campaign to challenge what it calls the “increasing demonisation of diesel” as a fuel for cars.
The organisation has joined forces with major car makers including BMW, Ford, Jaguar Land Rover and Volkswagen to “set the record straight on diesel cars” in light of “widespread confusion” over pollutants emitted by diesel engines.
Diesel was once championed by policy makers for being the most efficient fuel type, but there has been a dramatic about-turn in recent months, with nitrogen oxides and other particulates produced by older diesel engines being blamed for respiratory-related health problems.
SMMT chiefs are concerned that the negative stories about diesels could deter motorists from considering the most modern and cleanest diesel cars as their next purchase.
They are also calling for policy makers not to levy financial penalties against motorists who drive diesels; some local councils in London are charging diesel-owning residents more to park outside their homes than their petrol-driving neighbours, while other local authorities are imposing surcharges based on a vehicle’s Euro standard rating, and yet more are levying charges regardless of performance.
“Today’s diesel engines are the cleanest ever, and the culmination of billions of pounds of investment by manufacturers to improve air quality,” said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes. “Bans and parking taxes on diesel vehicles therefore make no sense from an environmental point of view.
“We need to avoid penalising one vehicle technology over another and instead encourage the uptake of the latest low-emission vehicles by consumers. The allegations against diesel cars made in recent months threaten to misguide policy making and undermine public confidence.”
A poll by YouGov indicated a startling lack of knowledge over the efforts made by the motor industry to improve the cleanliness of diesel engines. Just under one in five of those surveyed correctly indentified that power stations, and not diesel cars, are the biggest contributor of nitrogen oxides.
Almost three quarters of motorists surveyed were against penalties for the UK’s cleanest diesel engines, while 87% of respondents were unaware of the latest Euro 6 regulation-compliant vehicle emission technology.
More information about the SMMT’s new ‘Diesel Facts’ campaign can be found at dieselfacts.co.uk or via a leaflet distributed at car dealers.
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