THE ENERGY REQUIREMENTS OF ROAD TRAFFIC WITH CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE INCREASING PORTION OF DIESEL-ENGINED PRIVATE CARS

Assuming that the proportion of diesel-engined cars in the Federal Republic increases by a factor of four by 1985, the relative saving in energy is only small, i.e. Less than 0.9 million ton crude oil. With respect to the supply in the petrol sector a shift resulted in the demand ratio of petrol/diesel fuel, i.e. 3.1 million ton less petrol fuel and 2.3 million ton more diesel fuel. The increase in consumption of diesel fuel could be covered without much difficulty by an increase in converting heavy heating oil and/or by reducing the consumption of light heating oil. There should be no significant decrease in quality of the diesel fuel. A tightening of the minimum requirements laid down in DIN 51601 would diminish the availability of diesel fuel, it would increase the production costs, and it would rob the diesel engine of its main advantage, the vehicle operating costs. /TRRL/