Fears are mounting that diesel fuel could “disappear” from petrol stations across the UK sooner rather than later. A top expert has revealed that drivers are likely to notice a lack of diesel in towns and cities as the compound is gradually phased out.
John Lewis, CEO of EV firm char.gy, said he predicted that the fuel would stop being stocked in some parts of the UK over the next decade. Demand for brand new diesel fell by another 12.5% in 2025, with just over 6,000 vehicles leaving forecourts. However, they are still a force to be reckoned with in the second-hand market, with around 15 million diesel models still on UK roads.
The loss of diesel fuel at petrol stations is set to be a headache for owners, but experts suggest the move could drive forward demand and investment in cleaner electric models.
John told the Express: “The data shows diesel will disappear first in towns and cities, and that’s exactly where the need for local, everyday charging is growing fastest. Over the next decade, as some filling stations stop stocking diesel, communities will see more reliable on-street charging close to home emerge as a clear alternative.
“Programmes like LEVI are accelerating this transition, helping councils roll out chargers where people live, not just where fuel stations happen to be.”
The latest prediction comes just days after experts at New AutoMotive predicted the “death of diesel” in a new report. The study claimed that diesel may be unavailable at some petrol stations in London by the 2030s as demand drops off.
Meanwhile, the findings estimated that many of the country’s 8,400 forecourts could scrap the fuel entirely by 2035. This is because diesel ownership is expected to dramatically fall, with as many as just 250,000 models likely to be on the roads in the next ten years.
The New AutoMotive study read: “It is highly likely that as diesel vehicles get scarcer, filling station owners will question how much, if any, diesel fuel they should stock. At some future point, diesel simply won’t be available at the majority of filling stations.
“For individuals, the situation is trickier. There is a real chance of some people being left with stranded assets.”
