Motorists to ditch diesel in favour of petrol and electric vehicles

New research has revealed that three out of five diesel owners are planning to choose a different fuel type when they next change their car.

According to a survey of 1,000 drivers conducted by BuyaCar.co.uk, motorists are planning to abandon diesel in favour of petrol, hybrid and electric powered cars.

This is believed to be down to the introduction of clean air and low emission zones, and changes to tax brackets for polluting vehicles.

Owners said that the prospect of emissions charges was the main reason for planning a change in their next engine type.

Forty-eight per cent of survey participants said that they currently own a diesel car and 40 per cent of those plan to buy another diesel.

However, of those who say they will change their engine type, 35 per cent said they plan to opt for a petrol vehicle, and 20 per cent said they are looking to a buy hybrid model.

Five per cent are interested in switching to an electric vehicle.

Drivers who plan to desert diesel typically cited the prospect of future charges but almost half of them said they were also concerned about the environmental effects of diesels on air quality.