Diesel was never the preferred fuel for us here in America; it has always been in Europe for some odd reason. The oil crisis of the 1970s which saw gas prices skyrocket caused us to panic a bit and turn to diesel in order to fulfill our fuel needs, but once the gas prices were back in line we quickly came back around, why, because we love our gasoline. The sound and smell of a diesel engine was always a turn off and even though the sound has gotten better over the years, the smell is still apparent when you are near a diesel vehicle.
Now it seems many Europeans may be turning from diesel fuel to gasoline as well. Reports indicate there will be incentives offered valuing up to $10,000 for trading a diesel for a gasoline powered model. In our new day an age, the real fuel savings will come with the use of hybrid motors and all-electric vehicles that can give some of the best fuel savings possible. With these incentives being offered, companies that have always stood behind diesel will soon need to turn their attention to the gasoline powered options or suffer extinction.
Will diesel be gone for good? That is highly doubtful. Even though when you own a diesel vehicle you still have to wait for the glow plug and there is the chance the fuel can gel-up at extremely low temperatures, diesel has a place in our modern society and transportation. The benefit of using diesel fuel is greater power at lower rpms. This is made possible by the higher torque numbers that accompany a vehicle with a diesel engine. These engines typically are no match for their gasoline counterparts for horsepower, but the ability to get some excellent torque at the low end makes them perfect for hauling, working and off roading.
The move away from diesel for a vast majority of car owners is a real one though. Unless you simply love a diesel engine, the low end torque is not what you need in your sedan or sports coupe. This makes the development of hybrid engines, electric vehicles and many more a very real direction that most automakers need to embrace and work toward as cars are made lighter, with more power and better fuel efficiency. Even though some companies still see diesel as the best fuel choice, and may stay profitable with that stance for another ten years or so, they need to embrace the latest technology
On another note, when you pass gas stations in the US, what is the most expensive fuel typically; diesel. In many cases it can cost more to run a diesel engine than one that requires premium gasoline, making unfortunately another negative argument when it comes to diesel. There is still a place for diesel fuel in our society and that is in the high powered, high torque at low rpms trucks, semis and off road vehicles, otherwise, it seems companies are wasting their time with diesel powered cars.
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