Running on empty?

Drivers are to be offered cash incentives to get rid of their diesel cars under new government proposals. Motoring editor Jack McKeown asks if it’s time to ditch the diesel

Drivers will be paid compensation to scrap their diesel cars in a radical plan to improve air quality.

The Government will unveil its strategy to crack down on emissions, including proposals to reduce the number of diesel cars on the roads, tomorrow.

The Tories had wanted to keep the plans secret until after the general election but were forced into revealing their hand after they lost a legal battle to green campaigners and details of the scheme were leaked to the press.

According to reports, car owners will be able to receive cash only if the vehicle being scrapped is old enough and registered in an area where air pollution is already at dangerous levels.

More information on the new strategy will be unveiled tomorrow, ahead of the May 9 deadline imposed by a judge last week, after ministers decided not to appeal against the High Court’s rejection of a bid to delay it until after the election.

Challenge

Environmentalists won a legal challenge against the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which had argued a delay was necessary in order to obey “purdah” rules restricting government announcements during the election period.

Prime Minister Theresa May has previously indicated she will not punish drivers of old diesel cars if the Government cracks down on the motors to protect the environment.

Motorists were encouraged to switch away from petrol under Tony Blair’s government and Mrs May said that would be taken “into account” in future plans.

Sandy Burgess, chief executive of the Scottish Motor Trade Association which represents hundreds of car dealerships over Scotland, has broadly “ welcomed a potential scrappage scheme for diesels.

“Obviously we won’t know the details until Friday,” he said. “But anything that gets old, more polluting diesels off the road and drivers into modern, economical and low polluting cars is to be welcomed.”

Help available

And according to Sandy, canny buyers could potentially benefit from two government funds.

“If older diesel car owners can get a few thousand pounds through the scrappage scheme they may then be able to purchase an electric car, benefitting from up to £4,500 in government grants,” he said.

Sandy was keen to stress that drivers of new diesel cars need not be worried they’ll be forced off the road.

“What’s being targeted is cars with the old Euro 4 engines from 2005. We’re now at Euro 6, introduced in 2014, and the difference between the two is exponential,” he added.

“If you compare a car with a Euro 4 and Euro 6 engine, the harmful NOx emissions have dropped by 84%.”

So should people planning to buy a new car steer clear of diesel?

“Put it this way, my current car is a diesel and my next car will be a diesel,” Sandy continued.

“I do 30,000 miles a year and need a diesel car for the economy. However, diesel cars are not suitable for those who make lots of short journeys. They perform best on long runs.

“My advice is if you do high mileages and long journeys, buy a diesel car. If you do low miles and lots of short journeys, go for an efficient petrol one.”

Not everyone welcomed yesterday’s revelations. Sarah Olney, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, said it would take “more than hastily cobbled together policies to convince people that the Conservatives care about air quality”.

She said: “Thousands of deaths are caused each year from air pollution, yet this government has dithered and delayed.”

Diesel cars are not suitable for those who make lots of short journeys

Picture: PA. Out of fashion: diesel cars are now being targeted where it was once the turn of petrol. The debate continues.