Diesel cars are ‘imperative’ in the UK’s push towards lowering CO2 emissions in the UK, warns vehicle data experts. 

Killing this much maligned fuel type could have a negative impact in the UK hitting its environmental targets by 2021. 

Data experts cap hpi authored a new report which outlines the issues surrounding diesel cars and suggests that if the market share of diesel decline these targets look unrealistic. 

This follows a report that saw CO2 emissions rise in the UK for the first time in 14 years last year. 

One of the key causes of this was the 17.1 per cent decline in sales of diesels last year. 

MPs have suggested that if CO2 levels continue to rise then immediate action will be taken, which could see petrol powertrains face punishments. 

All the countries in the report achieved the 2015 CO2 emission target for cars registered in that year. 

While France and Italy were comfortably below the 130g/km line, the UK is closer, and Germany only cleared the hurdle by 1.4g/km.

Petrol is the most obvious replacement for diesel currently on the market but they typically emit more CO2 emissions. 

Matt Freeman, managing consultant at cap hpi and the report’s author, commented that without continuing sales of diesel engine cars, this target reduction is unachievable: “Hitting the 2021 environmental targets for CO2 reduction would be a significant challenge without the likely decline in diesel.

“Therefore it is imperative that diesels continue to command a substantial share of the new car marketplace.

“If consumers, with no option of transitioning to hybrid or EVs, switch to petrol the environmental impact is clear - their CO2 emissions would likely rise between 3% and 23% according to model.”

The data analysis have also suggested that even if everyone buying a new car decided to switch to electric vehicles in the UK, there is not currently enough manufacturing in place or suitable infrastructure to support them. 

Currently there is not enough battery production capacity to satiate such a dramatic change. 

One criticism in the report is that consumers have been led to believe that ‘all diesel cars are bad’, which could be causing ripples in the industry. 

Despite the fact that new diesels are cleaner and significantly less polluting than before, removing the older cars from the road is crucial. 

Older cars produce harmful nitrogen oxides and particulates which can cause heart disease and are believed to cause 40,000 premature deaths a year.