DW-World.de
Deutsche Welle

For many years, diesel was cheaper than gas. But it could have serious consequences for manufacturers as well, because German car makers used diesel for their cutting-edge vehicles. For years, they rejoiced over increased sales of diesel cars. According to the VDA, the German Association of the Automotive Industry, 47.7 percent of all new cars registered in 2007 were diesels. But there's already been a fall in 2008, with new diesel registrations only 45.9 percent in the first four months of the year. Grit Hoffman asks the president of the VDA whether German manufacturers backed the wrong horse, and visits haulage firms and car dealers.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  Bernd Döhrendahl is an independent taxi driver who covers 40 thousand kilometers a year in Berlin. Trips to the gas station are starting to really hurt; diesel prices are now rising dramatically. He can't simply raise his own prices – he's not allowed to: "These diesel prices make your blood boil. We in the taxi business are hit especially hard, as are all self-employed people who use their car a lot. Diesel prices are rising - and the state's not doing anything."

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  Three months ago the price for a liter of diesel was 30 cents less than gasoline. They're now the same. People only fill up their tanks if they have to – like this truck driver. The price display is barely wide enough when filling a thousand-liter tank. Private car drivers tend to #tanken nur noch das Nötigste.

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  Car dealers are likewise seeing their customers getting unsettled. They reckon the proportion of diesel-powered vehicles will fall. Some frequent drivers are travelling thousands of kilomteres further to make the pricey diesel engine worth their while. Frank Eick is manager at Kroymans Cars in Berlin: "Some customers are considering driving a vehicle with a gasoline engine. Becuase it's a) cheaper to buy and b) the fuel's sometimes cheaper."

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  Meanwhile, alternative biofuels are becoming increasingly popular. A liter costs 95 cents. Norbert Davediet is thinking about buying a new car with alternative fuel: "The price for diesel is almost higher than gas. It'll take some time, but we'll gradually all switch! "

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  Carmakers appear hesistant, however. They spent years working on high-tech diesel engines before only much later investing in the development of hybrid engines. Just a few months ago, Mathias Wissmann, president of the German carmaker association was praising diesel's efficient and green attributes: "Clean diesel sometimes boasts better environmental figures than the hybrid. I've nothing against hybrid. The hybrid often makes sense in city traffic. But over longer distances, the full hybrid also has its problems – because it's substantial weight means a higher fuel consumption and higher CO2 emissions."

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  But experts like Ferdinand Dudenhöffer say that carmakers will have to revise their ideas: more electric cars and smaller engines that run on gasoline and not diesel: "Diesel won't go away, but bigger and heavier vehicles will help to get rid of the Diesel advantage. That's true for trucks and also for larger passenger vehicles. But for normal cars, diesel will be losing ground over the next few years."

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  The price of diesel is set to rise further and in the long term stay that high. Not a great prospect for Bernd Döhrendahl and his colleagues.