Diesel: monthly fuel price in London 2015-2020

The price of diesel fuel in London fluctuated during the period of consideration. Between March 2015 and January 2016, prices dropped by some 15 pence, reaching a low of 102.5 pence per liter in January 2016, as a direct result of the global oil glut that year. In March 2020, the average diesel price stood at 124.9 pence per liter. London has a reputation for being expensive, and the cost of diesel is no exception. Since 2018, prices in the capital have been more expensive than the UK average.

Share of diesel cars in decline

As a result of the diesel scandal, where Volkswagen was discovered to have fitted defeat devices meant to lower emission levels during fuel economy testing, the popularity of the diesel car suffered significantly. Between 2016 and 2020, the share of diesel cars on UK roads halved, amounting to 25.71 percent in 2020 according to preliminary data. This is in direct contrast to the renaissance of petrol fueled cars and the steady gains made by electric vehicles.

There are many types of diesel, most commonly a fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, all of which are constantly being developed and adapted for the industry. As of 2006, almost all of the petroleum-based diesel fuels in Europe and North America are an ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD).