The death of the diesel?

Hubby has always had diesel for private and working vehicle's wouldn't have anything else,  

London is going to be very short of cabs.

London is going to be very short of cabs.

Write your comments here...Rickshaws perhaps

Despite all of the wry humour there may well be a problem looming here!

I am concerned about measures that an under pressure Chancellor might take to reduce Diesel ownership.  The most likely could be higher fuel taxes on Diesel - difficult because of the fact that almost all HGV deliveries are done by diesel, and he will be struggling to keep inflation down anyway.

The more likely is restrictions on private Diesel car access to  our  towns & cities.   That will ultimately affect the second hand values of our current vehicles, especially the larger 4x4's like mine.  Not too much of a problem for me because after 6 years mine is pretty low in value anyway.  But it would/will probably discourage me from buying another diesel replacement now.

BUT what alternatives are there, suitable for our way of life?

The Hybrids like the Mitsubishi are by all accounts I have read not suitable as tow cars. The ordinary petrol car engine has shrunk to little more than "Toy Car" status.

Who today builds a big powerful  High Torque Petrol engine?  I can't think of one outside of the RR & Bentley class?

This is potentially just as serious for the motorhomers, all of which are diesel as far as I know.

TF

We could harness a non-polluting horse in front of the caravan....errr hasn't that been done before? Seriously though, I do think the days of the diesel are numbered.

Just don't drive into the towns affected. Their loss.

well I for one would be very happy to go back to horse power ( the 4 legged kind that is ) 

As I have always avoided going into London for leisure pursuits like the plague. It wont bother me if I never take a vehicle into thst city.

During my working life I regularly was obliged to fly to London for meetings and presentations. Even although I stayed in good hotels, I have to say that I was not impressed by the city when out and about for a few beers in the evening.

So London, ban vehicles if you like, it wont bother me in the least.

Cheers K

Noneof the above has suggested a way forward.-  I repeat this is a serious threat to our way of life.  Lets abandon the funny quips, - what do you think will take us forward?

TF

Perhaps worth mentioning that Germany has over 50 towns and cities where some sort of restriction is in place although in most cases it only applies to a central area. The restriction is based on Euro engine classification. Euro 1  for petrol and generally Euro 4 and above for Diesel. You have to display a sticker which costs about £5 for the life of the vehicle. Any vehicles below those classifications are just not allowed to enter the centres. I suppose it might be argued that public transport has better provision but I  think that would equally apply to the larger cities in the UK. Engines are getting cleaner and perhaps going by the Euro number would be fairer?

David