Car rental customers ‘still prefer diesel’

Diesel remains the fuel of choice for almost two thirds (63%) of car hire customers, analysis by Europcar UK suggests.

New data, based on customers of its Model Guaranteed service, shows two thirds of motorists (63%) would prefer diesel when hiring a car.

Gary Smith, managing director of Europcar UK Group, says the continuing appetite for diesel, despite recent Government and media focus on this fuel, is interesting. “It appears that UK motorists are wise to the fact that the newest diesels – Euro 6 - which make up all of the Europcar UK fleet are widely regarded as delivering great fuel economy as well as reducing CO2 emissions,” claimed Smith.

The Government’s recently published draft proposals for improving air quality across the UK recommend that new Euro 6 diesels will not face penalty charges.

The survey also revealed that four out of five (78%) respondents said they would not want to hire an electric vehicle. Smith said: “We are working hard to overcome motorists’ range anxiety about electric vehicles.”