European Emissions Rules Threaten Diesel Dominance

Jason Siu
by Jason Siu

While diesel engines are beginning to gain ground in the North American market, their dominance in Europe could be coming to an end.

With European emissions regulations becoming more strict, automotive engineers believe that the high cost of new-generation, anti-pollution technology will make diesel engines too expensive. Automakers such as Ford of Europe believe the costs of meeting Euro 6 and the expected Euro 7 pollution regulations will become a major problem with diesel engines.

There is also the possibility of reduced petrol refining in Europe, if export demand falls. That would also cause diesel prices to increase, which is a by-product of the petrol refining process.

According to Joe Bakaj, head of product development for Ford of Europe, “it is much cheaper to get petrol engines through EU6.2; with diesel engines we need technology such as selective catalyst reduction systems, and costs increase again with heavier vehicles.”

[Source: Autocar]

Jason Siu
Jason Siu

Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.

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