The motor industry has attempted to stop the growing tide of concern over diesel pollution turning into a consumer backlash by launching a campaign against the fuel’s “demonisation”.
High particulate and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from diesel engines have been identified as a major pollutant, with air quality in British cities often exceeding EU safety levels.
But the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said that emissions were falling rapidly, and with the introduction of tighter engine standards from September new diesel vehicles would become far cleaner than a decade ago.
Increasing evidence of dire air quality – to which government scientists attribute 29,000 deaths a year – has led some London boroughs to introduce higher parking charges for diesel vehicles. Older diesel vehicles are likely to be penalised heavily in London’s planned ultra-low-emission zone, while Paris is planning an outright ban by 2020.
The British motor industry has invested billions in manufacturing and developing diesel engines, with many drivers in the past two decades induced through tax breaks to switch to diesel vehicles, then favoured by government for producing less CO2 than petrol.
Speaking alongside leaders of Britain’s biggest car manufacturers, Mike Hawes, the SMMT’s chief executive, said: “Diesel technology is in danger of being unfairly demonised. The allegations against diesel cars made in recent months threaten to misguide policy making and undermine public confidence in diesel. You need to do more to distinguish between new diesel and old diesel.”
The Euro-6 standard engine should cut NOx emissions by 84% from the permitted maximum of 2001.
Graeme Grieve, the CEO of BMW Group UK, said that diesel cars produced on average 20% less CO2 than equivalent petrol cars: “It is only if British drivers continue to choose diesel cars that the UK can meet its tough CO2 targets.”
Manufacturers warned that thousands of jobs and billions of pounds in exports could be affected. According to the SMMT, almost 900,000 diesel engines worth £2.8bn will be built in the UK this year, with 85% destined for export.
Jeremy Hicks, the managing director of Jaguar Land Rover UK, said the firm had just invested £500m in a new plant to build the most efficient engines.
The SMMT said the Euro-6 standard would included “real world” tests, as research has shown cars emit far more pollutants in normal driving conditions than their official certification.
Caroline Russell, the Green party’s local transport spokesperson, said: “It’s no surprise that a lobbying group made up of car manufacturers is fighting against life-saving action taken by councils to cut air pollution.
“We’re still seeing diesel engines blighting our city and contributing to a serious public health impact across the UK. It’s the duty of governments and local authorities to ensure that people are protected from the ongoing blight of diesel pollution in our cities.”
Last December, the Commons environmental audit committee warned that air pollution was now a “public health crisis” comparable to smoking, and identified diesel as a major problem in urban areas.
