i went to Belgium recently, and noticed that, give or take a few cents, the price of petrol was pretty much the same as the UK. And diesel was the same price, too. Not the same price as in the UK, but the same price as the petrol on sale in Belgium.
Once again, it looks as if British motorists are being taken to the cleaners. Does not the government realise that motorists will embrace cleaner and greener fuels - in ths case, diesel - only if and when they are not asked to pay an unreasonable premium. As modern petrol engines become ever more fuel-efficient, the one-time fuel-consumption advantage of diesel is gradually being eroded, and with the present price differential, diesel-car drivers in many cases will now be out of pocket. What kind of incentive is that?
If we are to be a diesel nation, and collectively and substantially reduce our carbon footprint, the chancellor should see to it that motorists who are prepared in the first instance to pay the premium for diesel power demanded by most manufacturers are not hit with a double-whammy by paying over odds for fuel as well. The minor incentive offered by lower VED rates offers only minimal compensation for our behaving as responsible caretakers of this planet. In continuing to run our petrol cars it is not we who are being irresponsible, but the government.
This government (and I suspect the next one) will continue to wring its hands and show mock concern to the public over the excalating cost of fuel while at the same time gleefully watching the much needed extra cash come flowing into the treasury. Mr Brown and his ever prudent mantra is wearing a bit thin and quite frankly he needs the money.
Motor Trade Insider | 26 May 08 - 19:32I’m probably about to attract some hate-mail here, but here goes anyway…
At current exchange rates, fuel prices in Abu Dhabi, UAE are as follows: -
E-Plus unleaded: ₤ 0.21 per litre.
Special unleaded: ₤ 0.23 per litre.
Super unleaded: ₤ 0.25 per litre.
Diesel: ₤ 0.31 per litre.
The price of diesel in Dubai has just risen to ₤ 0.67 per litre, and Abu Dhabi will no doubt follow in the near future as our roads and service stations are choked by endless convoys of trucks and buses arriving from Dubai to top up their tanks and jerry cans with diesel.
AlfaMartini | 29 May 08 - 6:00Government is the primary one capable of changing everything that exists in our society. Who wouldn’t be interested with greener fuel? All of us needed it! And for somehow, they told us that they were doing their best on it. I guessed, it may take centuries! LOL
Auto Development and Car News As Told By Patti | 29 May 08 - 8:24There can be no such thing as greener fuel. Heat is still the planets primary source of energy, be it coal, oil or nuclear. Some believe that bio fuels can be the answer to oil, but the end result is the same - more heat and CO2, and someone somewhere is probably going to starve to death as a result. Centuries are a luxury that we will not have. In 10 years time I think alot of us will be walking.
nedrover | 02 Jun 08 - 4:03The controversy regarding fuel costs is a high profile but comparatively minor issue compared to the well proven fact that our planet simply cannot sustain demands on its existing energy resources at the current and ever expanding rate.
Nedrover has correctly stated that in spite of all the hype, there are in fact no “green” fuels, either in production or on the immediate horizon.
My own opinion is that the answer lies in the efficient harnessing and distribution of solar energy, possibly via a global network of orbital satellite collector cells.
The technology already exists and could be developed to the point of practicality given sufficient support; however the governmental bodies which could (and should) work together in providing the political and financial support would appear to be more concerned with their own financial & political support via the existing oil production companies.
AlfaMartini | 10 Jun 08 - 19:01