What Car, the UK’s trusted voice in car-buying and car reviewing, conducted a survey on new vehicle buyers earlier this year. The Bridgestone-commissioned survey involved around 1,000 motorists in the UK and revealed that only 5% of them would purchase a new diesel vehicle. Used car customers also have the same sentiments as only 21% of them would consider buying a diesel-powered used vehicle.

There are several reasons for this but the most significant one would be the negative light that now surrounds diesel vehicles, which started after the Dieselgate scandal erupted in 2015. People are now more aware and better understand the impact that diesel emissions have on the environment. Approximately 34% of drivers consider effects on the environment as one of the major reasons to not purchase a diesel vehicle.

 90% of vehicle buyers said they would choose any other option except for diesel cars while about 66% do not want to purchase one ever again. 

Diesel prices have also been on the rise, so this could be another reason why the majority of car owners now want nothing to do with diesel-powered vehicles. Around 47% of car owners surveyed are excited about making the shift to electric vehicles (EVs) instead of buying another diesel-powered car. These drivers would rather save their hard-earned money.

According to the SMMT or the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, data shows a steady and continuing increase in EV sales. Registrations for BEVs or battery electric vehicles have been on the rise by at least 40.9% since May 2021, with a market share of around 10%, an increase of approximately 6.5%. 

Demands for HEVs or hybrid electric vehicles have also been increasing by a little over 18%, while registrations for PHEVs or new plug-in hybrids went down by at least 32.8%. This brings the total of new EV car registrations to around 27.9%.

In May 2022, data showed that the UK is close to achieving its goal of selling 500,000 BEVs. Motoring expert RAC performed the data analysis that indicated the UK now has over 400,000 BEVs on the road.

A third factor in the loss of interest in purchasing petrol and diesel vehicles is London’s ULEZ (Ultra-Low Emissions Zones) and the UK’s CAZs (Clean Air Zones). These zones were established to help control diesel emissions that have pushed air pollution to become a global crisis.

Why are diesel emissions dangerous?

Diesel used to be heavily favoured by both carmakers and car owners. This changed in September 2015 when the Volkswagen Group received a notice from US authorities specifying allegations that defeat devices were found in Audi and Volkswagen vehicles in the American market. VW denied the accusations but eventually admitted to knowingly using cheat devices to manipulate emissions testing.

A defeat device can tell if a vehicle is being evaluated in a lab. This allows the device to reduce emissions levels artificially to within the legal limits of the World Health Organization (WHO). Anyone who checks the vehicle will think that it complies with emissions regulations, but this is only true when the defeat device is in use.

Once the vehicle is outside the lab and driven on real roads, it releases excessive nitrogen oxide emissions. NOx emissions have adverse impacts on people and the environment. As such, the vehicle is a pollutant. 

This incident became known as the Dieselgate scandal. 

Over the years, the diesel emissions scam has affected millions of car owners and some of the most popular and bestselling vehicle brands in the world. Some of these carmakers include BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, and Vauxhall. 

Like VW, BMW, Mercedes, and all the other vehicles that allegedly used defeat devices have been in the spotlight for years. Daimler (Mercedes’ parent company) was the second manufacturer US authorities called out – and it started a chain of events that continues to hog the spotlight nowadays.

The BMW emissions scandal, on the other hand, started when authorities caught the carmaker holding secret workshops along with VW and Daimler. Their cartel reportedly colluded on delaying the development of technology for cleaner emissions.    

Dieselgate completely changed the way that people looked at diesel-powered vehicles, especially when reports about the effects of NOx emissions came out one after the other.

NOx emissions

NOx emissions negatively impact the environment, making vegetation weak and susceptible to damage. The nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) components of NOx also contribute to the formation of acid rain, smog, and a pollutant called ground-level ozone.

More devastating is the fact that NOx can lead to serious health impacts, including asthma, chronic lung function reduction, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. Over the years, millions of early deaths have been linked to toxic air, including that of Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, the nine-year-old UK resident who died after a severe asthma attack. The coroner has identified air pollution as the official cause of her death.

Emissions claim

Car owners affected by the diesel emissions scam are urged to bring their carmakers to court through a diesel claim. Not everyone is eligible to make one, so it is important to know the qualifications before proceeding to the claims process.

If you are one of those affected, get in touch with the experts at ClaimExperts.co.uk. They’ll help determine if you are eligible to make a claim and start the claims process.