Ameer Randolph
Once hailed as a wonder fuel, diesel has since fallen out of favour, with cities worldwide taking steps to crack down on diesel vehicles. So, what happened to diesel fuel? This paragraph will explore the rise and fall of diesel fuel, from its invention by Rudolf Diesel in the late 19th century to its decline due to health and environmental concerns in the 21st century.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | German scientist and inventor Rudolf Diesel invented the compression-ignition engine in 1892. |
| Original Fuel | Diesel initially did not consider a specific type of fuel. He believed that his rational heat motor would work with any kind of fuel in any state of matter. |
| First Prototype | The first diesel engine prototype was designed for liquid fuels and tested with crude oil, petrol, kerosene, illuminating gas, lamp oil, ligroin, coal tar creosote, paraffin oil, gasoline, and fuel oil. |
| Standardised Fuel | Before standardisation, diesel engines ran on cheap fuel oils, distilled from petroleum in the US and coal-tar creosote oil in Europe. |
| Mixtures | Some early diesel engines were fuelled with mixtures of petrol, kerosene, rapeseed oil, or lubricating oil. |
| Modern Fuels | The most common type of diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil. Alternatives include biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel. |
| Colloquial Names | Diesel fuel is commonly referred to as diesel, DERV (diesel-engine road vehicle), distillate, gas oil, and Solar (in Indonesia, Israel, and the Middle East). |
| Benefits | Diesel fuel is safer to store than gasoline due to its higher flash point and lower risk of explosion. Diesel engines are more fuel-efficient than other internal combustion engines, converting more heat to mechanical work. |
| Drawbacks | Diesel engines emit more nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, contributing to air pollution and causing health issues. |
| Phase-Out | Diesel vehicles are being phased out in some cities due to emissions concerns, with taxes and regulations discouraging their use. |
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What You'll Learn
The rise and fall of diesel fuel
Rudolf Diesel, a German inventor and mechanical engineer, was born in Paris in 1858 to Bavarian immigrants. He moved to Berlin in the early 1890s and began working on engine development and fuel efficiency. During this time, he experimented with steam and high-pressure cylinders, and alternative fuels such as kerosene, coal dust, and vegetable oils. In 1892, he received a German patent for his compression-ignition engine, which he had been working on since 1890. The first functional diesel engine, which ran on peanut oil, was demonstrated in 1897.
The diesel engine offered a more fuel-efficient solution than other internal combustion engines, with more heat converted to energy. Diesel fuel, derived from the refinement of crude oil, proved to be safer to transport and store due to its higher flash point, which prevented explosions. The diesel engine's ability to run on various fuels, including biodiesel, made it versatile and accessible.
In the 1930s, the introduction of motor-vehicle diesel engines, such as the Mercedes-Benz OM 138, led to the need for higher-quality fuels with better ignition characteristics. After World War II, the first modern high-quality diesel fuels were standardised, meeting standards such as DIN 51601 and VTL 9140-001.
The diesel passenger car market blossomed in the 1990s, particularly in Europe, due to advancements in engine technology. Drivers appreciated the fuel efficiency of diesel engines, which reduced long-term running costs compared to petrol engines. Governments, concerned about rising carbon emissions, also advised citizens to switch to diesel, believing it to emit less CO2. Diesel engines gained popularity, and by 2010, diesel-powered cars were promoted as environmentally friendly, with lower CO2 emissions.
However, the cracks began to show in the early 2010s. Evidence emerged of the detrimental health impacts of nitrogen oxides and dioxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emitted by diesel engines. In 2015, "Dieselgate" further damaged diesel's reputation when Volkswagen admitted to cheating on emission tests. Cities worldwide started to take action, with mayors of major cities agreeing to ban diesel vehicles from their centres by 2025.
Today, diesel fuel is facing a decline as it is being phased out in favour of more environmentally friendly alternatives. Despite improvements in diesel technology and emissions, the legacy of the past remains. The higher maintenance requirements and the availability of newer options, such as hybrid and electric vehicles, have also contributed to the shift away from diesel.
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The invention of diesel fuel
Rudolf Diesel, born on March 18, 1858, in Paris, invented the diesel engine in the 1890s. He was a German inventor and mechanical engineer who aimed to develop a highly efficient engine by converting heat into power. Diesel was interested in using coal dust or vegetable oil as fuel, and his engine was initially run on peanut oil.
The development of the diesel engine began with Diesel's research into thermal efficiency and fuel efficiency. He first worked with steam, but an explosion during a test run encouraged him to explore high-compression cylinder pressures. In 1892, Diesel considered his theory to be completed, and he received a German patent for it the same year.
In 1893, Diesel published a treatise titled "Theory and Construction of a Rational Heat-engine to Replace the Steam Engine and The Combustion Engines Known Today", which formed the basis for his work on the diesel engine. That same year, he introduced a prototype of his engine, which utilised compression ignition instead of spark plugs. On August 10, 1893, Diesel's prime model ran on its own power for the first time.
Over the next few years, Diesel continued to improve his engine model, and in 1896, he demonstrated another model with a theoretical efficiency of 75%, compared to the 10% efficiency of steam engines. Finally, in 1897, Diesel produced the first diesel engine, marking the beginning of diesel fuel. This engine demonstrated significant efficiency improvements over steam engines, and it was soon employed to power cars, trucks, boats, pipelines, electric and water plants, mining, factories, and oil fields.
The diesel engine revolutionised the transportation industry by providing a more efficient and cost-effective source of power. Unlike coal, diesel fuel did not require external ignition, making it a safer and more convenient option. The flexibility of the diesel engine to work with a diverse range of fuels also contributed to its success.
Today, modern diesel engines have undergone significant developments and are equipped with technology to reduce emissions and improve fuel economy. They are commonly used in various industries, including commercial trucking, shipping, and electricity generation.
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The standardisation of diesel fuel
Diesel fuel, also called diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is any liquid fuel specifically designed for use in a diesel engine. The most common type of diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil. However, alternatives that are not derived from petroleum, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), or gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel, are increasingly being developed and adopted.
Before diesel fuel was standardised, diesel engines typically ran on cheap fuel oils. In the United States, these were distilled from petroleum, whereas in Europe, coal-tar creosote oil was used. Some diesel engines were fuelled with mixtures of fuels, such as petrol, kerosene, rapeseed oil, or lubricating oil, which were cheaper because they were not taxed.
The introduction of motor-vehicle diesel engines in the 1930s meant that higher-quality fuels with proper ignition characteristics were needed. At first, no improvements were made to motor-vehicle diesel fuel quality. After World War II, the first modern high-quality diesel fuels were standardised. These standards included DIN 51601, VTL 9140-001, and NATO F 54. In 1993, the DIN 51601 was rendered obsolete by the new EN 590 standard, which has been used in the European Union ever since.
The principal measure of diesel fuel quality is its cetane number, which measures the delay of ignition of the fuel. A higher cetane number indicates that the fuel ignites more readily when sprayed into hot compressed air. European (EN 590 standard) road diesel has a minimum cetane number of 51.
In many countries, diesel fuel standards continue to evolve. For example, in the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented regulations to reduce the amount of sulfur in diesel fuel. Beginning in 2006, the EPA phased in more stringent regulations to lower the sulfur content to 15 parts per million (ppm), resulting in ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD). Similarly, in the European Union, the EN 590 standard specifies low-sulfur content diesel, with a maximum of 10 ppm, and includes requirements for biodiesel content.
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The taxation of diesel fuel
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, heavy oil, DERV, distillate, or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel used in diesel engines. In the past, diesel fuel was untaxed and was cheaper than petrol. However, today, diesel fuel is taxed in many places.
United States
In the United States, the federal excise tax on diesel fuel is 24.4 cents per gallon as of March 2025, which is higher than the tax on gasoline at 18.4 cents per gallon. Additionally, state and local taxes and fees add, on average, 35.89 cents to diesel, bringing the total US volume-weighted average fuel tax to 60.29 cents per gallon for diesel fuel. The federal tax was last raised on October 1, 1993, and has not been adjusted for inflation, which increased by 111% from October 1993 to December 2023.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, diesel fuel for road use is commonly called diesel or white diesel, while a reduced-tax agricultural product is known as red diesel. In 2001, the Labour government cut fuel duty on diesel vehicles to encourage people to switch from petrol. However, in recent years, the health and environmental impacts of diesel fuel have come under scrutiny, with nitrogen oxides, dioxides, and particulate matter from diesel exhausts being linked to premature deaths and air pollution.
European Union
In the European Union, diesel fuel is standardised, and the EN 590 standard has been in use since 1993.
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The environmental impact of diesel fuel
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, is a liquid fuel designed for use in a diesel engine, which is a type of internal combustion engine. Diesel fuel is typically a fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, although non-petroleum alternatives such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), or gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel are becoming more common.
Initially, diesel was promoted as a "'wonder fuel' that could reduce costs and environmental impact. Governments and industries encouraged the use of diesel engines, believing they emitted less CO2 than petrol engines. However, the cracks in this narrative began to show. In 2012, evidence emerged linking nitrogen oxides, dioxides, and particulate matter from diesel exhausts to severe health issues. In 2015, "Dieselgate" further damaged diesel's reputation when Volkswagen admitted to cheating on emission tests.
To mitigate the environmental and health impacts of diesel fuel, organizations like the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have established standards for sulfur content and emissions. The EPA's fuel standards have led to the production of Ultra-Low-Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel, which reduces vehicle particulate emissions and nitrogen compound emissions. While ULSD fuel helps reduce emissions in older engines, diesel fuel use still contributes to air pollution, particularly in the United States, due to the large number of older diesel engine vehicles still in use.
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Frequently asked questions
Diesel fuel, also called diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is any liquid fuel specifically designed for use in a diesel engine. The most common type of diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil.
Rudolf Diesel invented the diesel engine and diesel fuel in 1892. The diesel engine was invented as a more fuel-efficient solution than any other internal combustion engine.
Diesel fuel is being phased out due to the harmful emissions produced by diesel engines. Cities worldwide have taken steps to reduce smog and outlaw diesel vehicles.
