‘Death of diesel’ at pumps by 2030 would be a major headache | UK | News
A shocking new report has warned that diesel pumps could disappear from some petrol stations in just FOUR years as the “death of diesel” accelerates. Motorists have been told that filling up could soon become a major headache as forecourts dump fuel to make room for electric vehicle (EV) chargers.
A report by EV think tank New AutoMotive predicts that some petrol stations in London will stop selling diesel by 2030 as demand falls. And the picture looks even bleaker across the country, with many of the UK’s 8,400 forecourts predicted to have scrapped the fuel entirely by 2035.
Experts say the move is driven by a huge decline in the number of diesel engines on our roads, leading to a “tipping point” for retailers where stockpiling the fuel will no longer be worth it. Ben Nelmes, CEO of New AutoMotive, warned that diesel “will not hold up well” unless it sells quickly. He said: “If fuel sits in warehouses without being sold quickly, its quality suffers. As diesel availability decreases, many drivers will conclude that the smartest option is to avoid the headache and switch to electric.”
Diesel sales collapse, car numbers plummet
Statistics paint a bleak picture for the future of fuel. Sales are falling as the amount of diesel sold in 2023 is 22% lower than the peak seen in 2017. Car numbers are also falling rapidly. There could be as few as 250,000 diesel cars on British roads in just ten years; This is a large decrease from the 15.5 million counted in June 2025.
London is expected to become the first city in the UK to have zero diesel vehicles, largely due to the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Drivers of older diesel cars (registered before September 2015) currently face a penalty charge of £12.50 per day for driving anywhere in the capital.
But a government spokesman said there was no evidence in preliminary trials that diesel would not be stockpiled from 2030. “We know it’s vital that businesses feel supported in the transition to electricity, and that’s why we’re supporting the industry with £7.5bn, boosting British manufacturing and supporting the jobs of the future,” they said.
RAC Foundation director warns against writing off diesel too soon
RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said we could soon see a strange reversal of roles. While EV drivers worry about finding a charger, diesel drivers may soon be “anxiously searching for service stations where they can still refuel.” However, he cautioned against canceling diesel too soon, noting that the “White Van Man” and the transport industry still rely heavily on diesel. He said: “Calling the death of diesel feels like a bold move today, when the vast majority of vans and trucks that power our economy are still diesel-fuelled.”
While the government plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030, you will still be allowed to drive your existing car. But forecourts are already changing. The Petroleum Retailers Association (PRA) has revealed that only 57% of its members believe fuel will be the main source of cash within a decade. Instead, stations are investing in high-power EV chargers, larger stores and “premium valet service” to attract customers.
Delvin Lane, boss of charging giant InstaVolt, said the shift was not about putting pressure on drivers. He said: “For drivers, this is not about going electric. This is a rational choice driven by better technology.”
