With the vast majority of 4x4s diesel, many 4×4 drivers will have been feeling the squeeze of late. In many areas of the UK, the chasm between the cost of diesel and unleaded petrol has widened by as much as 30p per litre, with 4×4 drivers now facing record costs for this particular fuel type.
Historically, diesel has always been more expensive than petrol, with several factors contributing to its inflated price point. In this blog post, we take a closer look at why diesel vehicle drivers are paying more at the pump.
Import costs mean you pay the price
Whilst the wholesale price of petrol and diesel are rather similar, the fact that diesel fuel has to be imported from overseas means diesel 4×4 drivers are footing a much higher bill. Here OSV explains more about the import costs of diesel fuel and why they are so astronomical:
“One major aspect as to why diesel is more expensive than petrol is the fact it has to be imported from abroad. Diesel is a heavier material due to having larger molecules. So not only do we have to account for the costs of importing materials from abroad, but we must also consider the heavy weight of the product which is being imported.”
Team this with the competition for diesel being notably higher – diesel is utilised as fuel for heating in many countries – and it’s a recipe for overseas refineries to increase their prices.
Diesel formulation isn’t so simple
Diesel is much more complex to produce than petrol. Its formulation contains a large proportion of additives, which, while similar to the additives in petrol, are more volatile. This volatility makes the addition of further additives quite intricate, time-consuming and expensive.
Less diesel is now being produced
The import costs and formulation of diesel have always had a knock-on effect on the price diesel vehicle drivers pay for their fuel, but this doesn’t explain the pump prices climbing more recently. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and the need to import diesel from alternative countries rather than the latter, is just part of the problem with recent diesel and petrol price rises.
The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) – a conglomerate that represents the world’s largest oil-producing regions – recently announced that it was cutting production of refined oil by a whopping 2 million barrels a day, a move that has resulted in an additional spike in the price of wholesale diesel.
And the good news about diesel…
Despite the rising cost of fuel, the benefits of owning a diesel-powered vehicle far surpass the advantages of petrol vehicle ownership. It may be more expensive to purchase but diesel is a great choice for long journeys, which is excellent news if you’re looking to take your 4×4 on an epic road trip.
Another plus point for 4×4 drivers is the capacity for higher torque. High torque is incredibly beneficial if you’re using your 4×4 for towing. Better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions represent additional advantages of owning and driving a diesel vehicle.
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