2011 United Kingdom Diesel Market Share Hits Record 51%

[seftonm]

Average new car CO2 emissions fell to a new low of 138.1g/km in 2011, down 4.2% from the 2010 level.

Paul Riegler - THEDIESELDRIVER - Jan 25, 2012

Pictured: 2012 Ford Focus ECOnetic – Europe’s most fuel efficient compact car at 67.2 mpgUS combined on the NEDC or approximately 55 mpgUS combined on our own 08 EPA.

While the market share for diesel in the U.S. is roughly 3% and Germany’s is 49%, there is at least one country where more buyers choose diesel than anything else.

According to figures provided by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the market share for diesel-powered automobiles in the United Kingdom in 2011 was a record 50.6%. This represents a substantial increase over 2010, when the figure was 46.1%.

A total of 981,594 diesels were sold in 2011. Sales in 2010 were 936,406.

Alternate-fuel vehicles (AFV) also recorded record sales. Total sales of AFVs were 25,456, or 1.3%, up from 1.1% in 2010.

For the first time, sales of gasoline-powered cars dipped below the 50% mark to 47.6%

Another bright spot for eco conscious buyers: average new car CO2 emissions fell to a new low of 138.1g/km in 2011, down 4.2% from the 2010 level.... [Read More]

[jcp123]

Looks like they know something I've known for years: diesel torque + diesel FE = complete awesomeness without the hybrid complication!

[herm]

I am very nervous about those 30,000 psi fuel pumps.. you know they want more than $150 for them at the local NAPA store.. give me a cheap pickup/minivan with an HSD type 2 motor hybrid transmission and a basic atkinson engine, no belts please. The Paice patent on the HSD runs out in September..

[Jay]

Originally Posted by jcp123

Looks like they know something I've known for years: diesel torque + diesel FE = complete awesomeness without the hybrid complication!

A turbo-diesel is hard to beat in it's awesomeness. In the first place, the fuel is much less likely to be contaminated with ethanol or other political asshattedness. Diesel is safer than gasoline as the vapors don't explode. A diesel engine gives you some multi-fuel capability including jet fuel, kerosine, bio-diesel and even some vegetable oils. This could be a really important advantage in a SHTF scenario where both gas and diesel are hard to find. A turbo-diesel retains it's power at altitude. And, like you say, no complex hybrid drive or batteries to deal with.

[frv]

I love my diesel Honda! The torque makes for effortless driving, cruising at 30 in 6th is no problem and the i-CTDi engine is very quiet compared to most diesels.

Even now in the UK, many motorists say they would never have a diesel and I was the same 10 years ago, they were dirty, smelly and noisy. They have improved tremendously on all counts in that time and I am a convert. 20 to 50% better FE is a winner. The tide has obviously turned. $8+ a gallon probably helps

It looks like diesel sales in the US will take a looooong time to get to UK levels if ever

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Originally Posted by Jay

A turbo-diesel is hard to beat in it's awesomeness. In the first place, the fuel is much less likely to be contaminated with ethanol or other political asshattedness. Diesel is safer than gasoline as the vapors don't explode. A diesel engine gives you some multi-fuel capability including jet fuel, kerosine, bio-diesel and even some vegetable oils. This could be a really important advantage in a SHTF scenario where both gas and diesel are hard to find. A turbo-diesel retains it's power at altitude.

Unfortunately reducing the pollution problem meant cutting fuel economy and reducing the ability to use biodiesel. Now Euro 6 is the de-facto standard, manufacturers can work on improving the engines and the pollution control systems to reverse those negatives.

And, like you say, no complex hybrid drive or batteries to deal with.

HSD, the dominant hybrid system, isn't actually complicated. In fact it's the simplicity which makes it so good. The battery, managed as well as Toyota does, is also very reliable. Probably the greatest potential issue is actually the inverter, which needs to be kept cool. Fortunately, that's also been pretty good, despite one TSB.

Like diesel, old issues get resolved, misconceptions are gradually eliminated and acceptance increases.

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

It looks like diesel sales in the US will take a looooong time to get to UK levels if ever

If ever. Even ignoring taxes the price differential just makes it tough. It's currently over $4 for diesel compared to $3.50 for petrol around here due to winter fuel oil use. The prices are about the same in summer, with diesel sometimes being a little cheaper. However, if the economy improves higher commercial diesel use makes diesel more expensive.

Basically, when hybrids perform poorly in winter diesel's expensive and when they perform well diesel's at parity (and that's without a strong economy).

Toyota has recently announced the Prius c, starting under $19,000 and hopefully no more than $20,000 for a car with the American "essentials". The Prius liftback is $24,000 MSRP and it's now a car that gets incentives just like any other.

When the only non-luxury diesel vendor is VW (who have a horrible reputation both for reliability and dealer experience) there really isn't a chance. When the cheapest diesel is the VW Jetta TDI at $22,775 there isn't a chance.

Diesel will keep growing, gradually, but while hybrids are priced to sell and diesels are targeted at performance enthusiasts there's no chance of a large shift.

There's also a possibility that the shuttering of older refineries may see US capacity focused more on diesel. That might, over time, help with the diesel pricing issue, but the global demand pressure is likely to be more powerful than that.

[jcp123]

Originally Posted by Jay

A turbo-diesel is hard to beat in it's awesomeness. In the first place, the fuel is much less likely to be contaminated with ethanol or other political asshattedness. Diesel is safer than gasoline as the vapors don't explode. A diesel engine gives you some multi-fuel capability including jet fuel, kerosine, bio-diesel and even some vegetable oils. This could be a really important advantage in a SHTF scenario where both gas and diesel are hard to find. A turbo-diesel retains it's power at altitude. And, like you say, no complex hybrid drive or batteries to deal with.

I forgot about the other fuel sources! That's a great side bonus.

Originally Posted by ItsNotAboutTheMoney

When the only non-luxury diesel vendor is VW (who have a horrible reputation both for reliability and dealer experience) there really isn't a chance. When the cheapest diesel is the VW Jetta TDI at $22,775 there isn't a chance.

Yeah, we had two VW's bought on the same day. One, a 1,8t Beetle, was the least reliable car we ever owned; problems galore. The other, a Passat v6 4motion wagon was arguably the most reliable car we've ever had. Not sure what to make of it, but I have heard from other VW owners that they are far from the most reliable cars on the market. However, I picked up the latest Consumer Reports automotive buyers' guide the other day and the Jetta Sportwagen made their recommended list with average expected reliability.

[xcel]

Hi All:

A huge thank you to the Europeans for allowing such tremendous fuel efficient super diesels.

Here in the states, I am not sure we will ever see a percentage even beyond 10%. The Diesel premium is so high as to be onerous and the initial pricing that VW charges is just too much of a leap over the standard engine to make it palatable. The second one may have everything to do with competition (there is none) but the first feels almost planned here in the US given the futures pricing for delivery and what we see at the pump across the nation.

Finally there is hybrids and conventionally powered automobiles that are literally kicking @$$$ and taking names when it comes to fuel economy on the highway where the diesel truly excels. On a recent RT drive on the I-5, the 12 Civic Coupe with a stick provided an astounding measured 89.x mpgUS at its limits. The Prius c provided a very healthy 85.75 mpgUS on the same roadway but further south. While the 12 Passat has some truly amazing highway fuel economy potential, I am not sure that it can reach either of those two little monsters and the rest of the smaller sized VW lineup has even less potential due to the LNT vs. SCR.

All said, there are vehicles that are quickly encroaching upon the mighty iCDTi territory in our experience here in the US and the fuel economy climb from middling FSP levels to super diesel territory is not about to stop anytime soon.

Wayne

[phoebeisis]

Right
Like Wayne and others imply sorta'
The Prius is just SOOOO GOOOD AND SOOO CHEAP-why bother with pricier diesels that cost 50 cents per gallon more.

Heck the Prius is THE PROBLEM for all small economical cars.
If they will actually be selling them for $20,000 why bother with a Cruze,Civic,Corolla,Focus for just $2000 less??
The Sonic for maybe $5000 less will still make sense because it gets almost Prius HY FE-ns maybe 70% of Prius city FE- and it is reported to be fun to drive.
No one has ever accused the Prius of being "fun to drive"
Guess TDs are also "fun to drive"

Yeah the Prius is a BIG problem for small cars- so is the Sonic-who would have thought GM would build a really good really fun best in class small car and sell it for $16000 or so.


Herm et al- why hasn't Toyota scaled the HSD up for full sized pickups(been trying for 7 years years)?? What is the problem?? The Highlander drivetrain makes plenty of HP TQ-and good FE-so whats up??
Towing problems??
Charlie