Commercial vehicle range is keeping diesel engines alive

Diesel engines still have a future at Ford, according to the Blue Oval’s powertrain chief, but almost entirely because the firm’s commercial vehicle customers demand it.

Speaking to the Press Association at the launch of the new Focus – itself benefitting from two new diesel engines from launch – Ford of Europe chief powertrain engineer Simon Palmer hinted that with diesel-powered cars becoming ever more complex and expensive, it’s not passenger car sales that are keeping development worthwhile.

‘We’re seeing a significant reduction in demand for diesel engines on passenger cars – and even more so on small passenger cars,’ Palmer tells us.

‘I think we can all see that the divide between gasoline and diesel in small and medium passenger cars – in terms of fuel efficiency – is reducing, and so the business case as an individual for buying a diesel is far weaker today than it was five or 10 years ago.

‘We have to remember as well, diesel engines require a significant amount of after-treatment and engine technology to meet the latest emission standards. So in short they’re expensive, and you have to balance that out with the affordability of small passenger cars.’

Despite this – and the current ‘demonisation’ of the fuel across Europe – Ford has invested heavily in the development of two all-new ‘EcoBlue’ diesels in the last 18 months: a 1.5 and a 2.0-litre in various states of tune. Why? Customers of its profitable commercial vehicle range still rely on diesel.

‘We still see a need for diesel engines on commercial vehicles, and obviously what we’re looking to do is try and protect our diesel engines’ longevity,’ Palmer explains.

‘If demand [for diesel in passenger cars] is there, we are positioned in such a way that we can respond to it’.