Consumer perspective
The contemporary world has been subjected to overreliance on unrenewable sources of energy and as a result, of rapid industrialisation, the demand of fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel has increased significantly. Besides, the demand forces dictate that as long as long as better fuel economy retains a high value for consumers. Fuel will always remain a focus in the global market to the broad array of consumer automobile manufacturers and customers spread all over the globe. In addition to this, crude oil inventories have in recently been on the rise following a similar trend in 2015. Stocks in the Gulf Coast have reached a staggering $256 million barrels a trend that has also been exhibited in Oklahoma at Cushing. The most significant aspect that consumers are always worrying about is the impact this has on their savings besides being curious of which of either fuel is more cost effective (Frondel et al., 462). The environmental impact of both fuels has also been a contemporary issue with governments issuing emission restrictions in a bid to protect the environment. This paper thus seeks to analyze both fuels and give the consumer insight that can help them choose which fuel is more efficient for their needs
Cost of automobiles
The choice the consumer has to make between a diesel powered, and a gasoline-powered automobile has a very significant determinant of savings made on the purchase at prices between the two differ considerably. This could be as a result of a vast array of factors. Such range of government restriction on the use of diesel automobiles in the United States, for example as a result of significant omissions, to differences in fuel prices as well as the comfort enjoyed by owners of selected gasoline or gasoline automobiles. Generally, because of the advantage of mpg gasoline propelled cars enjoy reduced noise vibration and NVH which translates to the engines harshness while it is running, giving these cars a smoother cruise than diesel propelled ones
The sales of diesel automobiles, especially in the United States of America, has been on the rise since 2013 after a decline in the 1980 and 1990. This translates to a 13% increase which is more than the 6% increase in sales of new vehicles in the United States. This implies that the American citizens have had been preferring diesel to gasoline automobiles despite the fact these cars are slightly costly compared to their counterparts. Models like the Audi A3, Volkswagen Jetta, and Chevrolet Cruz are a perfect example of an automobile with considerable difference in their buying costs. Production of Low Sulphur Diesel, which has lower emissions and is more cost effective has been an important contributing factor (Frondel et al., 470)
Diesel engines have a slightly higher number of advantages than one propelled by gasoline. Taking engine performance, diesel fuel, and engine combination results in better engine performance although the torque produced is slightly lower when the fuel is a biofuel. Engines propelled by diesel fuels have no spark plugs as the mode of combustion does not involve ignition. As a result, these engines do not have to undergo modifications in ignition tune-ups and increased maintenance cost. They have an increased life span
Cost comparison
Similarly to the United States automotive industry, the diesel versus gasoline comparison concerning the price of the different fuels has evolved over the decade. This has been caused by many variables including fluctuation of the prices of crude oil to the merging of some pros and cons of the two fuels meaning that diesel fuel might not produce a considerable advantage over their gasoline counterparts. The enhancement of both fuels provides small emissions to the environment by reducing the amounts of Sulphur and Lead. This value addition which helps save the globe from climate changes and other effects brought about by global warming has led to a corresponding substantial decrease in the cost difference between gasoline and diesel fuels over the years (Frondel et al., 474).
This trend of gradual reduction in the cost difference of the fuels over the past 10years when the price of diesel was typically less than that of regular gasoline made the savings at the pump more significant and enabled the customers to overlook the higher costs of purchasing a diesel powered automobile. The price of oil had been forced to shoot up for a variety of reasons. A major contributor to this is that there has been a rise in global demand for the commodity. A majority of countries and nations like the United States have transitioned to ultra-low Sulphur diesel which is more expensive and the federal excise duty on diesel fuel is $0.06 higher than regular gasoline. Marketing and distribution costs have also skyrocketed a burden that the ordinary consumer has had to shoulder. As a result, consumers are currently paying more for the diesel fuel than gasoline.
The high energy content of diesel fuels as compared to regular gasoline fuels, they require more oil to produce. This has had an increase in the refinery costs which has increased pump prices. However, this has an added advantage since this costs are saved by more energy produced by diesel engines at a slightly reduced level of emissions. According to studies conducted at the University of New York, research findings have showed that for every 35 gallons of diesel consumed, the emissions produced translate an equal amount of emissions produced by 25 gallons of gasoline. This translates to reduced emission rates as well as savings from pump prices
Pros and cons
In our day to day activities, we more often than not tend to think that diesel fuel is a better choice for the environment due to its improved fuel efficiency as compared to gasoline. This is however not true as diesel fuels produce dirty emissions albeit the strict emissions regulations currently in the United States. This is, however, a significant reason as to why such diesel propelled automobiles are not as common locally as they are in European countries. Improved fuel efficiency has significantly cleaned emissions from exhaust pipes of diesel engines. However, their emissions also contain carcinogens, soot, and nitrous oxide. This makes it inappropriate for use while driving for long distances (Sullivan et al. 530).
Scholars and researchers have from the University of Michigan, have concluded that as compared to their gasoline counterparts diesel fuels hold their residual value better. About 90% diesel cars and trucks have had a five-year residual value than the gasoline counterparts which translates to longer lifespans (Sullivan et al. 530). However, the studies concluded that there is a general perspective that cars running on diesel have reduced acceleration speeds and are loud and smelly, but they give better gas mileage.
Diesel fuels have a considerably larger fuel economy than that of gasoline. Diesel has more energy as compared to gasoline thus the economic value. However, to produce fuels that dissipate more energy you require more crude oil in the finery. According to statistics, to produce a gallon of diesel you need 20% more oil compared to gasoline. As a result, more emissions are experienced in while using fuels with high economy values. However, the production of efficient diesel energy over the last few years has helped mitigate the shortcoming that we previously experienced with diesel fuels. Advancements in technology have helped eliminate the number of emissions particularly in the regard to diesel fuels. It is true to say that the high energy diesel fuels have considerable large amounts of emissions and should not be advised for use by the majority of the public to save for massive commercial vehicles (Sullivan et al. 537).
Global warming has been one of the significant reason humanity is opting for this measures that help protect the environment. It is a daunting task to consider adequately which fuel is more efficient regarding emissions than the other because it requires us to factor in other aspects which have been discussed above. It is important for humanity to seek to understand on the subject matter as this helps to ensure that we all are collectively involved in the protection of our environment, in our various capacities. Hybrid vehicles can be one of the most effective solutions to this predicament as by your driving needs; one can be able to adjust his driving to enable the care to have the least possible emission rates.
Works Cited
Frondel, Manuel, and Colin Vance. "More pain at the diesel pump? An econometric comparison of diesel and petrol price elasticities." Journal of Transport Economics and Policy
(JTEP) 48.3 (2014): 449-483.
Sullivan, J. L., et al. "CO2 emission benefit of diesel (versus gasoline) powered vehicles." Environmental science & technology 38.12 (2004): 500-569
