Diesel drivers face rip off at the pumps

We’ve had a lot of PetrolPrices members contact us and ask the question, why is diesel so much more expensive than petrol at the minute? Rather than having to write a long article for each person, we thought it would be better to share with everyone why diesel is so much more expensive at the minute.

Data from PetrolPrices.com shows that since the end of March prices have been steadily rising, and industry experts are predicting that this will continue, especially for diesel, as we head into colder weather.

The price rises so far this year

The price started rising in early April due to backlash after the chemical weapons attack in Syria, oil prices skyrocketed and buyers upped the wholesale cost to mitigate any loss in costs. This was followed in May as worry surrounded America’s potential sanctions on Iran would be, as well as a trade war.

Instability in the oil-producing regions over the summer has not helped and the oil price has continued to rise on average and has been consistently over $80 a barrel recently. The weakened dollar to pound conversion in light of Brexit has also created a higher wholesale price.

More recently oil prices have been affected by low production across countries such as Venezuela, and fighting in Libya caused a decrease in output, meaning that OPEC targets were not met.

Why is diesel so expensive currently?

In the fractional distillation process, where the crude oil is boiled down to usable products such as LPG, petrol, diesel and bitumen. Petrol has a lower boiling point than diesel and therefore uses less energy to be produced making it slightly cheaper in the first instance.

Currently, across Europe, everyone is upping their central heating as cooler weather kicks in and so the price of diesel rises as heating oil is very similar to diesel, so consumers have to compete with those burning oil for heating purposes. This means that while the oil price hasn’t changed much, there is a considerable difference between the cost of diesel and petrol currently.

The price disparity

We looked in our database of prices and found out the biggest price differences between petrol and diesel in towns across the UK and found the top five.

Data was collected between 15th October and 23rd October and all data was taken from the PetrolPrices.com database

In the top spot, we had Dunoon, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, with a price disparity of 10.9ppl between petrol and diesel. Following in second came another Scottish town, the burgh of Kirriemuir in Angus had a difference of 10.05ppl. At position three and four are two Welsh towns, Cwmbran with a 9.9ppl difference and Pontarddulais with a 9.66ppl difference. Scotland also brought up the rear with Usk having a 9.65 ppl price difference.

Ashley Beach, Data Analyst at PetrolPrices.com, said “Since the 22nd of September the average price of diesel has risen from 134.5ppl to 136.6ppl with it reaching a maximum average of 137ppl. The price of unleaded however has averaged 131.3ppl over the same period, causing a huge increase in the price discrepancy between the two fuels. As of the 20th of October, the price difference has maximised for this year at 5.6ppl, a monumental 138% increase since the start of the year when this difference was just 2.34ppl. The UK hasn’t seen a price difference anywhere near this size since early 2015 when the difference averaged 7.3ppl in that January and saw a maximum of 9.5ppl difference during the month.”

Currently, wholesale prices also show a very different picture with the unleaded wholesale price dropping rapidly and there has been up to a 7p difference between the unleaded and the diesel wholesale price. These large differences in the wholesale price have led to an even more substantial difference at the pumps, as shown by our data above.

High diesel prices

Diesel drivers are already experiencing higher prices for driving at the minute, and with more cities introducing congestion charges, it feels as though there is a constant tirade of additional costs thrown at them.

Some diesel drivers will now have to pay up to £100 a day to drive in certain Ultra Low Emission Zones across the country, as well as higher parking charges in multiple councils and in some cases, complete bans at certain hours of the day in city centres.

What can diesel drivers do?

At the moment, apart from buying a new car that isn’t diesel, there isn’t much that diesel drivers can do. Governments are already pushing to remove combustion engines earlier than expected so trying seems futile.

One thing you could do is sign a petition to call on the government to incentivise the removal of diesel, rather than criminalise them PetrolPrices.com does not endorse this petition, we simply wish to make our members aware of a current debate happening, and if someone chooses to act on this then that is on their own choice and not from us. We have not been paid to promote this and have no connection to the petition owner. You can sign the petition here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/228534

When driving a diesel car, especially as the pump prices are so high, you can improve your fuel consumption by following the below:

Don’t use unnecessary speed. The Department for Transport figures states you’ll use up to 9% more fuel driving at 70mph than you would at 60mph and up to 25% more fuel travelling at 80mph instead of 70mph. The faster you drive, the greater your fuel consumption. Set off a little before you need to, to avoid feeling rushed.

Don’t think slow driving is always best though. To drive well below the speed limit on motorways, etc, is dangerous. It’s also unlikely to save much fuel. Conserve momentum. This is as important for fuel consumption as not driving too fast.

Drive at the lowest speed you can, in the highest gear possible. Car manufacturers quote the most fuel-efficient driving speed as 55/56mph.

What do you think of the high prices? Will this affect you or your family? How should the government help diesel drivers? Let us know below

Petrol and diesel new car sales ban to start 2032

Ministers from a cross-party group—the Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) committee—have called on the government to bring the contentious ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars forward to 2032; eight years earlier than planned.

The news comes after the government announced they were making cuts to the Plug-In Car Grant scheme and, as of next month, will no longer offer incentives to buyers of hybrid vehicles.

Targeted pressure

The government has received pressure from various quarters, urging them to bring forward the 2040 target, while other European countries, such as Denmark, Germany, and Ireland have a much more ambitious plan to outlaw the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030, a decade before the UK.

Although the Government’s Road to Zero strategy includes the aim that by 2030, 50 to 70% of new car sales and up to 40% of new vans will be ultra-low emission, UK transport emissions have only reduced 2% since 1990, and an increasing number of advisers from climate, energy and industry sectors say the 2040 target date is too late.

The BEIS report says it wants to see hybrids included in the phase-out of petrol and diesel vehicles, but after anger from both the automobile industry and motoring organisations, MPs backtracked from more extreme plans to prevent the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040 by allowing the lowest emission hybrids.

Further recommendations in the committee’s report were for the government to organise the required infrastructure for charging EVs, to make sure that buyers of electric vehicles enjoy preferential Vehicle Excise Duty rates (‘road tax’) and preferential rates on EV company car tax—The report also calls for the government to keep Plug-in Car Grants for new electric vehicles at their current levels.

‘Unambitious and vague’

BEIS Chair Rachel Reeves, who said the government must make 2032 the target for the sales of cars and vans to be zero-emission, said:

“The UK Government’s targets on zero-emissions vehicles are unambitious and vague, giving little clarity or incentive to industry or the consumer to invest in electric cars. “

Ms Reeves said the Department for Transport’s cutbacks of the Plug-in Grant Car scheme “drives the incentives of buying an electric vehicle into reverse,” and is a “perverse way to encourage drivers to move to non-polluting cars.”

“This is only the latest sign of the government’s inconsistent approach to developing the market for electric vehicles,” she added.

Despite the UK ranking as the fifth best European country in which to own an electric vehicle, with around 14,500 public charging points for EVs, the committee said the UK was far from ready for electric vehicles.

Reeves said the report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) “was clear on the need to encourage changes in consumer behaviour, including increasing the switch to electric vehicles, to help decarbonise our economy. “

She added that the government needs to “get a grip” and organise the financial support and technical skills needed for councils to develop the necessary charging infrastructure and help make sure that electric cars are an attractive choice for consumers.

Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), who feels the current 2040 target is challenging enough for the motoring industry said a 2032 target would be “nigh-on impossible”.

Mr Hawes said because zero-emission vehicles make up only 0.6% of the market, the demand for such vehicles needs to increase by 17,000% in just over a decade.

The SMMT spokesman said, “This is unrealistic and rejects the evidence put forward by SMMT on behalf of the industry,” and added that car manufacturers are investing billions into zero-emission technologies but they recognise that “consumers need greater confidence and support if they are to buy these vehicles in the numbers we all want.”

Best country to own an EV

The government say they intend to make the UK ‘the best place in the world’ to own an electric vehicle and, although the car industry expects a rapid growth in sales over the next few years, with so many unknown circumstances ahead—such as whether manufacturers can make enough batteries to support the rapid growth of electric vehicles—you have to wonder if they can make this a reality.

Electric vehicles (EVs) make up 0.6% of the cars sold in the UK, and plug-in hybrids only 1.6%. Overall, they’re a tiny part of the 31.5 million registered cars on the UK’s roads. Although purchases of electric vehicles have increased, UK car manufacturers sold only 119,821 alternatively fuelled vehicles in the UK in 2017, but that number includes hybrid vehicles, too. Only 13,597 of the vehicles sold were zero-emission battery power cars, compared to the 1.3m petrol and over 1m diesel cars.

Buying an electric car is still much more expensive than petrol or diesel vehicles, so, motorists need to see the government offering practical and financial incentives before they can consider switching to EVs.

Many drivers, despite supporting the push to reduce carbon emissions, just can’t afford to buy a low or zero-emission car or find the lack of charging facilities—more so those in rural areas—daunting, and with the recent cuts to the Plug-In Grant scheme, the average driver is in a difficult position.

The upcoming Budget is an excellent chance for the government to discuss these issues and we can but hope they’ve been listening.

What’s your view on the proposed, new target? Are you for or against a 2032 target? Do you think the UK is ready for the changes the ban on petrol and diesel cars will bring? Share your opinion in the comments.

Noise of electric cars revealed, and it’s not what you would think

Back in May, PetrolPrices told you the European Union had put in place legislation that meant, from next year, all new electric cars must come with noise generators, which emit sounds when the car is travelling at low speeds.

Now, nine months before the new law takes effect, Jaguar has revealed the sound their I-PACE model will make—and the noise may surprise you. One thing is for certain, not everybody will like it.

Protecting the vulnerable

When electric vehicles (EVs) were first introduced, one of their selling points was that they were silent. Living in an ever noisy world, people welcomed fewer combustion engines not only polluting our air and planet but also our ears.

What EV designers didn’t expect was any downside of vehicles that make little to no sound, but the problem is that people can’t hear them coming—an even bigger issue for vulnerable people such as those with sight impairment.

People with impaired sight make up two million children and adults in the UK—no small number—and, while organisations such as the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association are in favour of environmentally friendly vehicles, they also feel further measures are necessary to protect pedestrians.

Research carried out by the charity, Guide Dogs found:

Pedestrians are 40% more liable to get run over by a quiet hybrid or electric car than by petrol or diesel cars.

Between 2012 and 2013 there has been a 54% rise in pedestrian injuries in accidents involving quiet cars.

In some environments, a person may only hear a quiet vehicle just a few seconds before impact.

76% of people polled said quiet vehicles make the roads less safe for pedestrians with sight loss.

78% said these cars make roads less safe for older people and 75% said quiet vehicles make roads less safe for children.

From July 2019, manufacturers must fit sound generators to new electric and hybrid models so that the vehicles make a noise when they are travelling at low speeds. All existing quiet electric and hybrid vehicles must be retrofitted with this technology by 2021.

Yet the Guide Dogs charity says before that happens, there will be thousands more silent, electric and hybrid cars added to the current 45,000 plus electric vehicles already on Britain’s roads. This, they say, puts huge numbers of vulnerable road users at risk.

Has Jaguar got it right?

Nine months before the new law takes effect, Jaguar has released the sound their Audible Vehicle Alert System (AVAS) will make in their I-PACE model—the manufacturer’s first electric vehicle.

It took their engineers four years to produce a sound that is audible yet discreet and one the driver can‘t hear from inside the car. Jaguar first wanted to use a sci-fi spacecraft sound, but when tested, pedestrians would look up at the sky, not towards the approaching vehicle.

The finished sound is audible at speeds up to 12mph and comes from a speaker behind the front grille. The noise is audible from any direction and increases in pitch and volume as the car accelerates. When the car reverses, an additional tone registers the shift in direction.

AVAS isn’t necessary when vehicles travel at higher speeds when enough wind and tyre noise enables pedestrians to detect the car coming, so the car only activates the warning sound at slower speeds and isn’t, it may please you to know, constant.

Click the video below to listen to the AVAS in the new Jaguar I-PACE.


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Jaguar’s Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) technical specialist, Iain Suffield said:

“We developed the Audible Vehicle Alert System for the I-PACE to ensure the safety of all road users. Our potentially life-saving technology cannot be switched off and as the leading charity for people with sight loss, we are pleased to have the support of Guide Dogs to ensure real people are at the heart of our product testing.

“The absence of traditional engine noise from electric vehicles creates a problem for vulnerable pedestrians, such as the blind or visually impaired. This is especially true at low speeds in town centres and car parks.”

Libby Clegg, Paralympian, who twice has almost collided with quiet vehicles, said:

“As a guide dog owner, I rely on being able to hear cars to judge when it’s safe to cross the road. It’s terrifying to cross when you’re unable to hear quiet hybrid and electric vehicles. Ensuring all quiet vehicles have sound generating systems installed and switched on would ensure that millions of people, like me, who are living with sight loss, would be protected from the growing safety hazard.”

Both hybrid and EV vehicles already exist with warning sounds, which either the driver operates or ones that activate at low speeds. The sounds produced range from artificial beeps and chimes to those that mimic engine sounds or tyres moving over gravel.

Noise pollution

Many anti-noise and electric car advocates have fought against vehicles having artificial noise generators as a signal for pedestrians, as they claim these will just further add to noise pollution.

René Weinandy, Head of Noise Abatement in Transport for the German Environment Agency, argued that laws to fit electric vehicles with AVAS were being implemented without adequate scientific proof of their effectiveness or enough consideration of the negative side effects. Weinandy says manufacturers haven’t explored less harmful alternatives and that better options must be available.

Then there are those who say many luxury cars with internal combustion engines (ICE) are already quieter than some hybrids. If so, maybe the safety of pedestrians isn’t a problem with EVs, but with quiet cars?

What’s your opinion on the sound of Jaguar’s I-PACE? What sound do you think is best for EVs and hybrids? Do you support the use of noise-generators in these cars? Tell us in the comments.

Traffic lights could be removed from UK roads says Ford

Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) technology is being developed by Ford, and it could see the end of traffic lights, a reduction in congestion and reduced accident rates.

All too often, a car manufacturer makes a statement which could amount to a step toward a motoring utopia, only to then clarify that ‘this is our future goal’, or words to that effect.

Ford Motor Company have recently made such a statement – that the use of their technology could see the end of traffic lights, it may well reduce congestion, which in turn will see pollution levels diminish, and of course, a reduction in accident rates. Only this was more than a statement.

UK Autodrive

As part of the government-backed UK Autodrive programme, Ford has been demonstrating their new ‘Intersection Priority Management’ (IPM) system in Milton Keynes.

Essentially, the system allows connected cars to send and transmit data such as location, speed and the direction they’re travelling in to similarly equipped cars in the same vicinity, which then advises the driver of the optimum speed to navigate other vehicles or junctions without stopping, of course, the ultimate goal is to use this software as part of a suite of full-autonomy functions.

Ford says that it’s based on how humans negotiate crowded areas instinctively – it just happens, with no sudden stops or emergency avoidance action, and more importantly, little congestion.

Christian Ress, supervisor with the Driver Assist Technologies at the Ford Research & Advanced Engineering says: “With the connected car technology we have been demonstrating in Milton Keynes this week, Ford envisage a world where vehicles are more aware of each other and the environment they’re in, which will enable intelligent cooperation and collaboration on the road networks”.

Traffic lights

Research shows that on average, a motorist will spend two years of their life waiting at traffic lights, so any reduction in that time would not only be welcome but could be beneficial to the environment. It’s thought that reducing the time spent waiting at traffic lights would have a demonstrable effect on congestion, which in turn would, of course, help to lower city pollution levels. Maybe this could be part of the solution to end the spread of congestion charging?

Ford’s own research also says that road junctions cause up to 60% of Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs), so vehicles fitted with the Intersection Priority Management system will be inherently safer, with the software analysing the trajectory and speed of any vehicle around it.

In theory, this all sounds like an incredibly simple yet effective solution, but of course there are some flaws; for this to work as Ford intend, each and every vehicle on the road must be fitted with it, or a system that’s compatible with it, and presently, it still relies on the most unreliable link in the system – the human element.

Until vehicles are fully autonomous, there will always be an element of a driver believing that their judgement (or need) is greater than anyone else’s, or an indecisive driver that would prefer to leave a bigger gap than the computer says is necessary. It will never be able to counter the human element until it’s removed from the equation.

V2V and V2X

Vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity aren’t new, most manufacturers are working on their own proprietary versions of a system, but it won’t be arriving at a dealership anytime soon, or at least not in such an advanced state.

In all likelihood, it’s doubtful that we’ll see systems as this being commonplace for a decade or so; it’s all very well one manufacturer showing off their capability, but until there is a unified set of protocols between manufacturers, that’s all it can ever be – a showcase for a manufacturer. Certainly, there are brands that have introduced limited self-driving capabilities on their vehicles, but think of them as a DVD in a digital streaming world – the technology works well to a degree, but at a fraction of what’s needed to make it a viable reality for the world.

We shouldn’t discount driver habit or education either – we’ve been taught to drive on principles based around the human being the smartest decision maker, learning to give that control to a device or microchip simply can’t happen overnight, it will take years of trouble-free learning for that to happen as a natural progression to our driving habit.

Our world embraces technology, and it’s fascinating to see just what technologies are around the corner, but as technology changes, so must society, and perhaps that’s the hardest to change.

What do you think of this technology? Is there a better way to control traffic flow and congestion? Would you be able to let the system take control? Let us know in the comments.

Brexit no-deal could close the M26 motorway indefinitely

Plans revealed in government yesterday showed that the M26 will be closed every night for six weeks in order to convert it into a lorry park in the instance of a no deal Brexit to allow for customs and checks delays to not stop regular traffic flow.

Both ministers and manufacturers are worried that in the case of a no deal Brexit there will be long queues for freight vehicles. Highways England confirmed yesterday that they had been asked by the Department for Transport to look at how the M26 in Kent could be modified to allow for holdups at Dover.

Operation Brock

Something similar is already in place on the M20 to allow lorries to park on a 13 mile stretch between Junction 9 at Maidstone and Junction 8 at Ashford. The northbound carriageway remains open, but in contraflow, while the southbound is shut to allow for lorries to pass through.

Increased border checks mean that an extra two minutes added onto a check could cause delays up to 17 miles, Dover port officials have said. The current temporary solution on the M20 is not a viable long-term solution according to local MPs and council executives.

A report released under the Freedom of Information Act said “Customs checks on imports from outside the common market can take between five minutes to 45 minutes per vehicle

Port officials have warned that increasing the average time it takes to clear customs by as little as two minutes could lead to 17-mile traffic jams.”

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The plans for the M26

Currently, the M26 has been closed every night for the last week to perform site surveys to understand the work needed to be done. Currently, this is the biggest practical implication that Brexit has had on the UK, so far it has mainly been legislation changes.

A spokesman for Highways England said: “The M26 will be closed in both directions overnight from October 15th to 19th between 10 pm and 5.30 am.

It will also be closed overnight from November 19th to 21st December between 10 pm and 5 am (on Friday night timings are 11 pm to 6 am).

This work is being undertaken by Highways England as part of the Kent Corridor Coordination Group programme of works.

There will be diversion routes for all vehicles and appropriate signage will be in place via M25/M20.”

Gates will be installed in the central reservation to allow for traffic to pass onto the other side of the road and then the northbound carriageway would act as a contraflow to keep traffic moving, while the southbound acts as a car park, holding up to 2000 lorries in case of emergencies.

Highways England also said: “As part of wider resilience planning, Highways England has been asked by the Department for Transport to develop plans to utilise the M26 to hold heavy goods vehicles, should further capacity be required in the future.

“We will be undertaking site surveys on the M26 during October leading to the installation of two gates in the central reservation to support the safe management of freight in the future if needed.”

Objections from MP’s

Tom Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge and Malling, felt as though his constituency was kept in the dark over the works. Speaking to the government, Mr Tugendhat said “It’s come to a pretty pass when a member finds out that works have begun on a motorway to turn that motorway into a parking lot without consultation either with the local community or indeed with surrounding members.

The M26 works started last night. I wrote to [Transport Minister, Chris Grayling] in April asking whether or not this would happen. I was assured that works were not planned and only yesterday was it confirmed to me that Highways England had said that is exactly what was planned, despite having told me the reverse only a week earlier.”

Chris Grayling responded to the comments reassuring Mr Tugendhat that he did not plan for any of the contingency measures to be needed as he was confident “we will reach a sensible agreement [on Brexit].” Mr Tugendhat felt as though there had been no warning and local residents felt as though it would send lots of traffic through small single lane tracks in their villages, causing more disruption than necessary. It was also revealed that planning permission was granted without prior consultation of local residents.

Around four million lorries cross the Channel every year, and so any delay in crossing would cause insurmountable hold-ups and slow down delivery dates of groceries, meaning food won’t be as fresh, medications could take longer to deliver and there will be delays in all sectors.

Do you think these plans are the best way forward? Would you be comfortable using a motorway in contraflow? Let us know below

EU votes to cut car emissions 40% by 2030

Last week, despite guarded recommendations by the European Commission and complaints from automobile manufacturers, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted for a 40% reduction in car emissions by 2030.

The European Parliament aims to persuade all 28 nations of the European Union to support the plan. The 40% figure came as a trade-off to appease both greens and those who fear harm to the car industry.

Moving the goalposts

After Volkswagen conceded, in September 2015, that they’d tampered with diesel engines to falsify emissions tests, vehicle emissions have become an even greater concern.

Following the scandal, all diesel vehicles have received broad scrutiny, with a lot of them found to emit much less pollution during tests than they do on our roads.

In last week’s meeting, the EU’s executive Commission supported only a 30% cut to emissions, while the environment committee wanted a 45% reduction.

The EU nations environment ministers will confer further this month, but a definitive ruling may not come before December this year.

This isn’t the first time legislation has changed to increase the percentage in which the European Parliament aims to reduce CO2 emissions. Last month, they raised the figure to a 30% cut by 2021 and before that; the aim was of a 15% decrease of CO2 by 2025.

Manufacturers must also make sure that, by 2025, zero and low-emission vehicles make up a 20% market share of their sales of new cars and vans. This figure increases to 35% by 2030.

The UK government has declared a ban on sales of all new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040. Other countries such as Denmark, India, Ireland, and the Netherlands have set their deadlines for 2030.

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A clear majority

Despite government guidance welcoming the proposal as in line with UK policy, British Conservative MEPs voted against the 40% target. This is surprising as the UK’s own 2050 target is to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 80% of the 1990 levels, equating to a minimum of 3% decrease in emissions year on year. Once we leave the EU, how will this affect the plans as we will no longer have to meet official targets?

Some countries haven’t yet announced their opinion on the proposal, but Germany has resisted any further rise to the current 30% decrease in CO2 output recommended by the European Commission.

Germany says it has its own strategies to decrease pollution from older diesel vehicles by inviting car manufacturers to offer trade-in incentives and hardware fixes.

German interest group, Verband der Automobilindustrie VDA—also known as the German Association of the Automotive Industry—, which represents chief car manufacturers such as BMW and Volkswagen, said the European Parliament was setting “completely unrealistic targets.”

VDA President Bernhard Mattes said, “It is ignoring the technical and economic feasibility” of the proposal.

“It will not be possible to implement the targets in this timeframe,” he added, arguing that lawmakers risked endangering jobs in many European countries.

Clean Vehicles Manager at Transport and Environment, Julia Poliscanova, disagrees and said: “This vote is good news for the climate, for jobs in Europe and for the millions of Europeans who will start to enjoy cleaner air in their cities.

“A clear majority of EU governments supports Parliament’s decision to accelerate the transition to clean and electric mobility.

“Only Germany, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria oppose higher ambition.

“We shouldn’t allow Germany to hold an entire continent to ransom over its failed diesel strategy.”

While potential job loss in the auto industry causes concern for many, others say these stricter targets will bring positive consequences for job creation in green technologies. MEPs have agreed that carmakers with average CO2 emissions above the targets must pay a fine into the EU budget, to pay for teaching workers affected by changes in the automotive sector to develop new skills.

The interesting aspect of this is that of Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania voting against the proposal, these three countries are developing rapidly and all contribute considerably to the current emissions figures. Do they perhaps need lower emissions targets to be able to increase their GDP or is there another reason for the resistance?

An electrifying future

Experts say there has to be an increase in the sale of electric and hybrid vehicles before it’s possible to see a considerable reduction in emissions, but while lots of people want an electric car, the cost is prohibitive to many.

Drivers also worry about the lack of available recharging sites and battery range. That said, this year’s Nissan Leaf boasts a range of 168 miles.

While prices for electric vehicle (EV) are reducing, you’re still looking at over £20k to buy a new EV. If that’s something you can afford, but you want to know more about the benefits, in terms of cost, you might the following information useful:

The UK Government provides an incentive for those who buy new Ultra Low Emissions Vehicles (ULEVs) with their Plug-in Car Grant. The dealership deducts the grant from the cost of the car when you buy. Depending on the category and model the car belongs to, you can get 35% (up to a maximum of £2,500 or £4,500) off the cost of the car.

A complete charge in a pure electric vehicle provides an average range of 100 miles and costs £2 to £4—much cheaper than it’ll cost you to drive 100 miles in a petrol or diesel car. Pure EVs costing less than £40,000 don’t pay Vehicle Excise Duty (VED or ‘road tax’). All other cars, including plug-in hybrids, pay a minimum of £130. For the first five years of ownership, EVs that cost more than £40,000 have a VED of £310—cheaper than the £450 VED for a conventional car costing £40,000 or more.

Plug-in cars emitting 75g/km CO2 or less get a 100% discount from the London Congestion Charge. A regular user of this zone could make an annual saving of over £2,500.

Grants exist from Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) to install home chargers for plug-in vehicles via the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme. This provides funding of up to 75% (capped at £500), of the eligible expenses of installation.

There are many other benefits to driving an EV, not related to cost, and, while these cars aren’t without their downsides, like it or not, they look certain to be a part of our motoring Future.

What’s your view on the European Parliament’s target of a 40% reduction in car emissions by 2030? Do you think it’s achievable? Is this too ambitious a goal or are we not going far enough to tackle global warming? What are your views on EVs? Tell us in the comments.

Nuisance parking to become illegal

A new law drafted by the Minister for Home Affairs could make parking on private land without permission illegal. At the moment, there is no formal law on parking on private land, meaning that any car, unless illegally owned, cannot be removed.

A trial is to take place in Jersey to see if making ‘nuisance parking’ illegal is successful and cost-effective. The law proposed would allow illegally parked cars to be removed and also make it unlawful for a car to be clamped if left on a driveway or private parking area.

What is nuisance parking?

Nuisance parking, the act of parking on private lands, such as a driveway, without prior permission is currently legal thanks to a loophole in the law. All of this is about to change with the introduction of a nuisance parking law.

Currently, under the Freedom Acts 2012, anyone can technically park on your driveway and not face any consequences such as clamping or towing unless lawful authority has been granted which can often be a long and costly process.

The Minister for Home Affairs in Jersey, Connétable Len Norman, said: “Vehicles that are parked on private land without permission can be a source of great frustration for private landowners. Currently, private landowners have few remedies to deal with the problem, and it can involve a costly legal process. The introduction of this law will make it much easier for private landowners to deal with vehicles that have been abandoned on their land or that are causing a nuisance, obstruction or a potential hazard to the emergency services.”

Pricey parking

Parking can be one of the most expensive hidden costs of driving, with some motorists having to pay up to £8 an hour in central London boroughs, it is no wonder some people choose to park on private land, which is free and can be closer to their destination. However, the cost can end up being on the owner of the land.

Criminal law and civil law become funny when referring to cars parked on private land, as unless the car has no MOT, tax or insurance on it, the car can legally be parked on your driveway. Although some may find this thought ridiculous it is technically legal. Removing a car from private land means that the owner of the land would have to foot the bill, which can run into the thousands, factoring in the cost of getting it removed, legal costs and any compensation for damage to the car. In many ways, it can seem a lost battle if the owner of the car doesn’t remove it themselves.

Many people, when doing the school run or dropping off people, do often use driveways and private land as a holding spot. This can come as great annoyance to the owners of that land as they are trapped into their driveways, or find that it is impossible to manoeuvre out of their road.

Current laws

According to the Office for National Statistics, over 100,000 cars a year are towed away, and while it does not delve into the specifics, it seems likely that a considerable number of these will be for illegal parking. But this only encompasses the number of vehicles towed away for illegal reasons, and so it is a strong assumption that the number of cars parked legally but in a nuisance way is much higher.

To remove a vehicle currently requires a court order from a civil court for the removal of a vehicle or to pursue civil action against the owner for nuisance. Some may have the legal action covered by their home insurance.
Advice from policing question site, AskThePolice, on the subject of “Someone has left a car on my land, what should I do?” says:
“Under no circumstances would we advocate you merely pushing the vehicle onto a road and leaving it there, as you may commit an offence.

Don’t damage/clamp the vehicle or have it removed by a third party without first seeking legal advice. If you do any of these things, you may commit a criminal offence or the owner may pursue a civil action against you.

You may be able to obtain the cost of having the vehicle removed from the owner but you will need to speak to your legal advisor about this.”

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The new law

This new law gives private landowners the chance to fight back against parking is sure to be well received. While the current trial is only happening in Jersey, there will be many motorists across the country who are welcome to this trial starting and the future it holds for them.

The draft Motor Vehicles (Removal from Private Land) (Jersey) Law – will allow landowners to:

  • Remove vehicles from their land when the vehicles do not have permission to be there
  • Apply to the Petty Debts Court for an order preventing persistent ‘nuisance’ parking on their land

The law is set to come into play, once debated and approved, at the beginning of 2019, and a selection of State approved removal companies will carry out the work to ensure compliance is met and all involved can trust the team carrying out the work.

Is this a good idea? Would you like to see this happen in a nationwide rollout? Let us know in the comments below

“Stop demonising diesels,” asks new petition

“Diesel restrictions and penalties – an unacceptable abuse of public authority.”

In 2001, Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) and CO2 emissions were inextricably linked, the rationale being that vehicles with a higher level of CO2 were the ones responsible for polluting the environment, therefore, they should be made to pay. Diesel, by its very nature produces less CO2, giving rise to a boom in sales and an increase in benefits – buyers were actively encouraged to purchase diesel.

As the implications of emissions and pollutants became clearer, diesel became a much-contested topic, with the government implementing stringent measures to counter the effect of diesel pollution, leaving those motorists that were encouraged to buy, severely out of pocket. Surely, the government has some culpability in all of this?

One petition agrees

A new petition has been created for just that – “to get policymakers to face up to their past mistakes rather than slap more taxes on people. The creation of further diesel restrictions and penalties is an unacceptable abuse of public authority.”

We’ve written extensively about the demonisation of diesel – increased parking charges, city-wide bans, congestion & T-Charges, all aimed at tackling the air pollution problem caused by vehicles, or if you’re a cynic, aimed at revenue raising for the authorities.

There is no denying that we (that is, the UK and the world as a whole) have a problem with air pollution, to argue against that would be an exercise in futility, but this petition is about innocent buyers following best-practice guidelines from the government, and being penalised for it. The modern-day equivalent would be being taxed for recycling your waste.

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The other side of the coin

Of course, there is debate regarding the information; the government were acting on information that was believed to be correct at the time, it’s only through the passage of time that further information came to light and changed policy.

While that is absolutely acceptable – governmental policy is ever evolving – what is at issue here is the punishment being meted out on that advice, and the effect it’s having not only on the diesel drivers, but the motor manufacturing industry as a whole – as of September this year, new diesel sales were down by a staggering 42.5%, and residual resale values are through the floor.

The petition, created by Stuart Coster, isn’t looking to drop the charges, or lessen the severity of them, but to just put the whole ‘diesel is the spawn of the devil’ attitude on hold, giving the government, industry experts and manufacturers the opportunity to come up with a fair way of dealing with the situation, it could almost be said that we’re potentially looking at the automotive version of the PPI mis-selling debacle.

We’re not alone

One such answer could be similar to proposals set out by the German government – a retrofit of cleaner hardware, or viable scrappage schemes in which the manufacturers are offering up to €10,000 in discounts against a new car. While it does seem to have some of the manufacturers backing, it must be said that other brands are reluctant – after all, they were selling perfectly legal, legislation compliant vehicles, and therefore, hold no liability. Although perhaps some car makers may be on weak ground.

The reality is that the motoring industry, government and buying public need to take action, with an aim of reducing emissions as a whole, without the consumer being penalised for taking ‘expert’ guidance in effective measures against vehicle pollution.

There was a time that buying a diesel would see a financial benefit in year two of ownership, today, however, that maths is somewhat different: A diesel Volkswagen Golf would take sixteen years of ownership for it to be more cost-effective than its unleaded counterpart. That’s the price of diesel ownership.

Agree?

Whether you drive unleaded or diesel, this petition could be the start of making the government answerable for some of their motoring related decisions. It’s worth knowing that with just 10,000 signatures, the government must at least respond, and if 100,000 people sign it, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

This isn’t so much about diesel as a single issue, but about justification, and making the government see that motorists can’t or won’t sustain the decisions for much longer; if you chose a diesel vehicle on the advice of the government or based on the fact that you were incentivised to do so, then you should consider signing it.

To be clear, we aren’t saying that we should avoid any action to help reduce pollution, nor do we believe that some penalties shouldn’t be applied for certain vehicles, but lets at least make it fair for both the motorist and the driver. PetrolPrices.com does not endorse this petition, we simply wish to make our members aware of a current debate happening, and if someone chooses to act on this then that is on their own choice and not from us. We have not been paid to promote this and have no connection to the petition owner.

You can sign the petition here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/228534

Do you feel that diesel penalties are fair? Should the motoring public make a united stand against demands from the government? Let us know in the comments.

Risk of £70 fine for parents outside schools

The school run is rife with stress for many parents. Getting children to their place of learning and heading off to work is often a race against the clock, but parents and caregivers pulling up outside the school gates could now face a hefty penalty.

To protect the safety of children, counties around the UK are trying to tackle traffic around schools. Leicestershire County Council has made the news with its ‘School Keep Clear’ scheme. Costing half a million pounds, the scheme includes a camera patrol car and more parking restrictions around schools.

Smile for the camera

The patrol car, driven by Enforcement Officers, uses a mounted camera with automatic number-plate recognition (ANPR) to catch parents found parked on zigzag markings outside their children’s schools.

Offenders will receive an automatic fine of £70 through the post, and, as with all parking fines, seeks to act as both punishment and a deterrent against repeating the violation.

Thirty-two Leicester schools who already have the mandatory markings are taking part in the scheme. A further 25 schools have signed up, awaiting work to make the zigzag zones enforceable.

Leicester was one county to install child-shaped bollards outside one of their schools, to get motorists to reduce their speed in the 20mph zone, by fooling drivers into thinking schoolchildren were trying to cross the road. The bollards cost £350 each, yet a car soon hit one.

After guidance from health organisations, some local authorities are considering ‘no-idling’ zones, to safeguard children against pollution, with fines for motorists who leave their cars running outside schools.

Other areas are going further by closing the roads around schools to most traffic during the school run, with some using temporary bollards at drop-off and collection times.

Even people without children will agree that the safety of children is an important issue. Reducing the chance of a road traffic incident and health problems from the pollution cars cause—for residents living near schools, too—is something to encourage. Yet, gone are the days when all children attend their nearest school and, with both parents often working, many people are trying to balance the school run and their own drive to work. These parents may have little choice but to use their cars.

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Driving a wedge

In Leicester, Councillor Blake Pain, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport said:

“We’re launching the scheme which essentially makes more zigzag zones enforceable outside schools and we believe it will go some way to alleviating concerns.

“We work closely with schools and colleges to improve issues around on-street parking as well as pedestrian and pupil safety and we invited schools to register their interest in the scheme.

“Ideally, the schools and local communities will work together to encourage parents to park appropriately on the school run, and we provide help and guidance on school travel plans to help tackle the problem where necessary.”

Despite much support for such traffic-calming around our schools, the measures will not be popular with others.

Paul Whiteman, General Secretary at the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), said many parents had to make the school run via car on their way to work, and many schools and surrounding roads were not equipped for this reality, leading to congestion, pollution and road safety issues.

He added: “Fines are often a blunt tool for councils to use, and can drive a wedge between parents and schools even though head teachers have no role in administering them.

“Councils must work with schools and local communities to ensure that roads around schools work for everyone,” he said.

Striding for change

It may come as no surprise that yellow zigzag markings have confused many drivers over the years. While rule 243 of the Highway Code says drivers cannot stop or park near a school entrance unless forced to do so by stationary traffic, the rules are a tad ambiguous.

Although parking on the zigzag lines isn’t always an offence, these markings are to warn drivers not to park, for the safety of children. Therefore, you may commit an offence by ignoring the markings if you cause an obstruction, and, while the local authorities can’t issue a penalty, the police can give you a ticket.

In some areas, the zigzag lines come along with a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) which makes it an offence to park and could land drivers with a Penalty Charge Notice fine (PCN), but these areas must have a sign to warn drivers. Without the sign, yellow zigzag lines are not legally enforceable. A PCN is a civil matter, not a criminal one and won’t result in a criminal record or points on your licence.

If you find yourself never able to park near your children’s school and it’s not impossible for you to get the kids to class any other way, why not consider an alternative mode of transport?

Lots of schools work together with the council and UK Sustainable Transport Charity, Sustrans to encourage schoolchildren to get to school without the car. There are schemes such as ‘Park and Stride’, Walking Buses, and other initiatives designed to encourage pupils to cycle, scoot, or walk to school.

Not only do these car substitutes reduce gridlock around schools and reduce pollution, but they also give children their important daily exercise. Something we can all agree is a good idea.

Are you a parent struggling to park during the school run? What do you think about these school traffic-calming measures? Do you live or drive near a school where these actions are in force? Give your opinion in the comments.

Ford owners forced to shell out over faulty cars

Owners of Ford vehicles fitted with the 1.0 litre and 1.6 litre EcoBoost engines have had to pay out thousands of pounds for repair work on their engines, due to a known fault that had a safety recall notice in America in 2014.

The problem dates back to 2012 and relates to an overheating issue which could lead to the car catching fire, or a catastrophic engine failure. It took until January 2018 for Ford UK to issue a recall notice, and until that point, owners were faced with settling the repair bill themselves – up to £8,000.

Separate problems

Despite both problems resulting in an overheated engine, Ford says that they aren’t related; the smaller of the engines suffering from a coolant hose problem, the 1.6 litre affected by localised heat and cracking cylinder heads.

With that said, some owners of the 1.0 litre EcoBoost have reported issues with their cylinder head, but that could entirely be a result of the overheating – many owners claiming that they’ve driven the car until it wouldn’t drive further.

The problem has been highlighted by an investigation by the BBC’s Inside Out programme; it found that hundreds of owners have paid to have their cars repaired, or traded-in at a loss due to Ford’s lack of acknowledgement of the problem. Even when that acknowledgement came, Ford was offering some customers a goodwill gesture of just 55% of the repair bill. It has since stated that all repairs will be covered by them, providing that they fit within the scope of the problem. This will be retrospectively applied.

Legal action #1

Law firm Roscoe Reid is talking to the members of the Facebook group ‘Ford EcoBoost Nightmare’ and others to investigate whether there are grounds for a Group Legal Action (GLA) against Ford, it says that this could potentially cost the U.S. car giant around £1 billion in legal fees and compensation, as this isn’t just about a failed product.

Ford has known about the inherent danger particularly associated with the cylinder head cracking, as this leads to hot oil spraying on to engine components and catching fire, in some cases, owners have reported their car being engulfed in flames within minutes of the first sign of trouble.

Ford did issue a recall notice for the 1.0 litre engine in March of 2015, and it says that 96% of the 44,682 affected cars have been fixed, but that it wasn’t classified as a safety issue due to the fact that a driver would be warned if the car were overheating, therefore they’d have time to take action. The question must be asked regarding the cracking cylinder heads on the 1.6 EcoBoost though?

With Ford issuing a recall notice in the U.S. back in 2014, you’d have to wonder how successful they’d be in fighting any GLA from the UK consumers – the EcoBoost Facebook group has over 3,300 members currently, and they estimate that nearly half have suffered a problem directly relating to the issues stated.

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Affected cars

As has already been pointed out, Ford says that a great many of the affected 1.0-litre cars have already been fixed under their warranty or recall notice, but they’re contacting the 15,600 owners of the 1.6 EcoBoost engined cars to arrange a fix.

The cars affected are:

The 1.0 Litre 3-Cylinder Turbocharged EcoBoost engined cars such as the Fiesta and Focus manufactured between October 2011 through to October 2013, and the 1.6 Litre EcoBoost fitted to the Focus (from 2010) along with the C-Max and Kuga, and from 2012 onwards, the Fiesta ST.

If you’re unsure as to whether your car is affected, or has been recalled, your local Ford dealer will be able to give you the information you need or book your recall slot. In all honesty, there is very little you can do personally, aside from perhaps avoiding getting the car too hot. Equally, if you’ve already been faced with a bill for repairing your car because of this issue, you should talk to your dealer about reparation.

If you carry a fire extinguisher for just such an emergency, the safest advice is to ignore the fire and get yourself to a safe distance – do not open the bonnet; more often than not, the very act of opening the bonnet to fight the fire allows oxygen in to the engine bay, which feeds the fire. Leave it to the professionals.

If your car does start to overheat, don’t press on regardless – find a safe place to stop and let the engine cool naturally. Do not be tempted to aid the process with a liquid, and do not open the expansion cap – the water is beyond boiling temperature, and the system is pressurised.

Have you suffered any of these issues? Did you have to pay for them personally? What are your experiences of the Ford customer service? Let us know in the comments.