Diesel cars tend to have a more affordable asking price than electric cars and have better torque (power) for increased performance and towing. However, EVs are cheaper to run, plus they often feature better onboard technology and are better for the environment.
Diesel engines are typically much more fuel-efficient than gas engines, even those with very high compression ratios. Diesel fuel is also more energy-dense than gasoline, meaning more energy per gallon. As a result, it's not uncommon for a diesel-powered car to get 50 mpg or higher.
Electricity is cheaper than petrol or diesel, so you'll save money with better fuel economy. EVs emit zero emissions, so they're much better for the environment as green cars. Electric cars have instant torque, so they have great acceleration.
Advantages of a Diesel Engine
They are more rugged and reliable. There is no sparking as the fuel auto-ignites. The absence of spark-plugs or spark wires lowers maintenance costs. Fuel cost per Kilowatt produced is thirty to fifty percent lower than that of gas engines.
Diesel vehicles are generally more fuel-efficient than gasoline cars due to thicker density, low rpm performance, and higher compression ratio. As mentioned before, Diesel is 20% more efficient than gasoline. Its thicker density allows it to produce more energy with less amount of fuel.
Pros: Lower fuel cost, higher resale value, longer-lasting engine. Cons: Diesel vehicles are more expensive, diesel mechanics are more expensive.
Diesel engines are built with a simple yet durable valve train. The rollers are harder and more solid than in gas engines and there are no hydraulic lifter failures to worry about. Overall, the camshaft lobes, lifters and rockers are all much longer and built to withstand more heavy duty conditions.
Better for longer journeys and towing
Diesels deliver more power at lower engine revs than their petrol equivalent. This makes diesels feel more suited to longer motorway trips because they're not working as hard as petrol engines to produce the same performance.
Digital Trends reports that diesel engines tend to be more durable and last longer than gas engines, with reliable operation and minimal required maintenance.
Cons of diesel cars
Diesel fuel usually costs more. Servicing can be more expensive, although you don't need to do it as often. Diesel cars produce a lot more NO2. Diesel engines can be slightly noisier.
Pollution. This is one area where an electric car has a clear advantage over a diesel car. Even with BS6 emission norms in play, diesel cars pollute far more than a petrol car and infinitely many more times than an electric car. This is simply because an electric car has zero tailpipe emissions.
This is because diesel is around 20% more efficient than petrol so it should be cheaper to run in the long term, but only for drivers who go long distances or travel on motorways regularly. If you live in a city and/or mostly drive less than 15 miles per journey, then you're better off buying a petrol.
A gasoline-powered vehicle can typically operate for around 200,000 miles before it needs a serious overhaul, or be replaced with a new vehicle. But an amazing fact is that diesel engines can run for 1,000,000-1,500,000 miles before needing any major diesel repairs.
Diesel engines feel faster because they actually are faster when running at a lower RPM—which is where commuters regularly find themselves. However, as long as your engine isn't too small or improperly tuned, you can easily get the same level of torque out from a regular gas car if you want.
"You can get up to maybe 250,000 km or 300,000 km before a gas engine starts to make noise, or burn oil because it's wearing out, but a diesel can quite easily do 500,000 km and still be in excellent shape," says one certified mechanic I spoke with.
Under ideal conditions, diesel fuel can be stored between six and twelve months. To extend the life past twelve months, even under the best conditions, it needs to be treated with fuel stabilizers and biocides.
One of the main reasons is the price gap between the rate of petrol and diesel. The share of diesel engine vehicles in the Indian motor market is decreasing and even some automakers have started discontinuing the making of their diesel variants.
Need to be driven daily, else maintenance becomes high
This is by far the most common misconception. Modern diesel cars do not need constant attention. You can use it when you need to. Else you can park it safely without worrying about the parts becoming jammed.
Diesel engines make a lot of noise while burning the fuel. The main reason behind this is that diesel molecules are much bigger than petrol molecules and the engines run on high compression. Another prominent reason behind the excessive noise in diesel engines is the fact that diesel engines do not use spark ignition.
Diesel fuel is a type of distillate fuel that is essentially produced from crude oil, which gives diesel engines slower cylinder wear than gasoline engines. This gives diesel fuel lubrication properties that extend the overall lifespan of the engine.
Though diesel cars and trucks may cost more upfront, they're often worth it in the long run. Diesel is a richer source of usable energy than gasoline. According to the Department of Energy, diesel motors typically get as much as 35% more miles to the gallon.
American Consumer Attitude Towards Diesel Engines
The pump price of diesel is far more expensive than gasoline; even more than the premium fuel option. The savings of a diesel engine come with the fuel economy over the life of the engine. A diesel engine costs more to build and is more expensive to purchase.
Pros of buying a diesel car
Due to diesel engines' increased fuel economy, you can get up to double the kilometres out of a tank, meaning less trips to the service station. Diesel fuel is less prone to price fluctuations than petrol. Some diesels are even more economical than hybrids and are cheaper to buy.