When it comes to vehicular fuels two giants come to mine: gasoline and diesel. The former is dominant on this side of the Atlantic while the latter is extremely popular in the old world. Despite this the French government has plans to slowly phase out diesel for use in passenger cars.
They also plan to implement a ranking system that identifies the dirtiest, most polluting models. Supposedly this will permit local authorities to restrict access to certain places based on emissions.
About 80 percent of motorists in this Western European country drive vehicles with compression-ignition engines, though this is not necessarily a good thing. Prime Minister Manuel Valls said, “In France, we have long favored the diesel engine. This was a mistake, and we will progressively undo that, intelligently and pragmatically.”
SEE ALSO: Top 10 Reasons to Buy a Diesel Car
Beyond a ranking system and potentially limited access to cities, another option French lawmakers have is the tax incentive. The country’s 2015 state budget seeks to reduce the advantage for diesel compared to gasoline. They plan to raise the excise tax on this oily fuel by two euro cents per liter, something that would bring in an additional 807 million euros next year.
Earlier this year the country’s energy minister announced that drivers who opt to dump a dirty, diesel-powered car and buy a supposedly clean electric model can receive a bonus of up to 10,000 eruos, about $13,500.
It’ll be interesting to see how France’s machinations to ditch diesel pan out.
[Source: Automotive News]
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