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How it all began - The rise and fall of diesel

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<i>Image: iStock</i>
<i>Image: iStock</i>

South Africa - July 2017 saw the announcement that the UK will ban the sale of petrol and diesel-engine cars from 2040 due to the amount of Nitrogen Dioxide polluting the air.

Many car manufacturers have implemented the 'scrappage scheme' to help the general public with the cost of buying a new car. 

The UK government also introduced new tax on diesel cars sold after April 2018 that meet the real driving emission step 2 (RDE2) standard.

With that in mind  SelectCarleasing.co.uk created an infographic depicting the 'rise and fall' of the diesel industry.

A bit of history

In 1893 Rudolf Diesel engineered the first prototype diesel engine. A year later he successfully applied for a patent for his diesel design. Fast forward some 20 years, Diesel disappears during a trip to the SS Dresden ship to London, where he met the representatives of the British Royal Navy to discuss the possibility of powering British submarines by diesel engine.

Controversy

In 2015, Volkswagen were found guilty of intentionally cheating emissions tests in its diesel-powered cars. The automaker was fined $2.8-billion dollars. 

The rise and fall of diesel: 

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