Diesel car tax (mobile only)

Abstract:

Scientific research reveals diesel cars to be more damaging to the environment than petrol engine cars (emitting more CO2 than petrol).

Diesel cars also cause greater air contamination than petrol equivalents at street level.

A 2014 report by the Organisaton for Economic Co-operaton and Development (OECD) shows with non-CO2 emissions such as soot (or carbon black) and nitrogen oxide, diesel is 15–18 per cent worse for the climate than petrol, litre for litre.

Although diesel cars can travel further on a litre of fuel, the (OECD) show that individual divers tend to drive more miles due to lower fuel cost, negating the benefit.

The study also shows that diesel cars emit significantly higher levels of other air pollutants, especially nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulates.

Summary:

Due to the overwhelming weight of evidence, the smart institute for policy suggest steps be taken to whittle down the number of diesel cars on the road.

The obvious place to start is to reduce the number of new Diesel engine cars sold to the public. We are making a distinction between vans / trucks / commercial transportation and cars. We suggest to leave alone the van and truck market but tax new diesel cars heavily at point of purchase.

Policy recommendation:

We recommend placing a tax on all new diesel cars sold.

We suggest no more than a 14% tariff, which would significantly reduce desirability of diesel cars without in effect implementing an outright ban. We suggest this limit in order not to burden the automotive industry unfairly and not to cripple petrol engine car production to all our detriment.

For full paper please email us at

smart.institute.for.policy@gmail.com

Author: David Ian Bennett

Published:

24th Oct 2020