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Growing hysteria regarding diesel cars could have a negative impact on the fleet sector if the reality isn't put into perspective, according to Shaun Barritt, CEO of Grosvenor Leasing, who claims that talks of scrappage schemes and polluting diesels give the impression they need to be taken off the UK's roads as a matter of urgency.
"Everyone appreciates the green agenda is encouraging drivers into ULEVs, and the positive message is that we will soon see a dramatic increase in these vehicles on our roads, largely because the motor manufacturers are being targeted by 2021 to achieve 95g/km for the cars that they produce," said Barritt.
"Yet reading the headlines, the focus isn't on portraying the benefits of everyone driving greener cars. Instead, the language is of doom and gloom about dirty diesels, scrappage schemes and the pollution they're causing. It wasn't long ago that we were being encouraged by the Government to drive diesels, and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has recently reminded us that diesel cars emit, on average, 20% lower CO2 than petrol equivalents."
Recent registration figures show that the demand for diesel remains strong, despite the negative press, and in March almost a quarter of a million new diesel cars were registered, an all-time high. According to SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes, recent reports fail to highlight the newer cleaner diesel engines on sale today and the progress that has been made to reduce harmful emissions.
"Euro6 diesel cars on sale today are the cleanest in history," he said. "Not only have they drastically reduced or banished particulates, sulphur and carbon monoxide but they also emit vastly lower NOx than their older counterparts - a fact recognised by London in their exemption from the Ultra Low Emission Zone that will come into force in 2019. Some recent reports have failed to differentiate between these much cleaner cars and vehicles of the past. This is unfair and dismissive of progress made."
"We need a sense of calm," continued Barritt. "If the 'dirty diesel' phrase gets into people's minds the likelihood is it will impact their resale values. This could then lead to the leasing sector suffering losses against forecasted residual values, and the contract hire companies who are pivotal to the UK automotive sector will subsequently have less to invest in green initiatives."
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