in Europe, diesel cars make up about 50% of the total cars on the road, however only about 3% in the US. While petrol engines rely on ignition and a spark to create velocity, diesel engines use compression. Air is drawn into the motor and subjected to high compression as it heats up.

The fuel emits less carbon dioxide gas, which is the main contributor to greenhouse gasses creating a global warming problem. The engines do, however, produce higher amounts of nitrogen oxide which can be linked to serious health hazards and also produces more smog.

The fuel also contains more energy than petrol which means that users tend to acquire 20 - 40% better fuel economy, allowing some diesel cars to travel as far as 700 miles on a single tank of gas, due to being one of the most dense and energy efficient fuels on the market. They even deliver better fuel economy than gasoline-electric hybrid motors. Initially, diesel fuel was a lot cheaper than petrol by the gallon, however prices tend to be roughly the same on today's markets, but providing these higher prices don't succeed the 20-40% margin set by the stronger fuel economy, diesel will remain cheaper overall than traditional gasoline.

The engines are designed to withstand more compression, and therefore, tend to last a lot longer before they require major reparation work than standard petrol engines. Mercedes Benz holds a record for clocking over 900,000 miles on a car's original diesel engine. Engine reliability and lifetime longevity can have serious benefits to trade-in and resale values. When you do have to pay for maintenance, it can be a little more costly as diesel engines tend to include more technology than petrol engines.

Modern diesel engines tend to be faster from a standing start. Because of how the diesel fuel is burned, more torque is provided to the driveshaft. For the same reasons, diesel engines tend to have an increased haulage capacity, making it a popular choice for larger vehicles and for commercial trucking companies. They may be faster off the starting line, but petroleum engines tend to be faster overall, however diesel engines tend to be stronger and more enduring, despite being a little slower.

Technology is constantly improving for diesel engines and they are forever becoming cleaner and emitting lower emissions due to specialised catalytic converters, advanced sisters and other devices cutting down and destroying toxic emissions. These advancements have also eliminated some of the earlier problems with diesel linked to excessive noise problems and have also reduced maintenance costs. They are also less likely to spew black smoke out of the exhaust, which made early users believe the fuel was dirty and worse for the environment than petrol.

Diesel cars retain their value a lot longer than their petroleum counterparts. According to ALG, compact diesel cars held 63% of their value after 36 months, whereas gasoline cars only retained 53%.

Since 2006, every car to win the 24 hour race Le Mans burned diesel instead of petrol, proving it's ability for endurance and longer journeys over petrol cars. 

Since the very early 1900s, many British cars have adapted a dark green shade known as British Racing Green, or BRG for short. It began when it was suggested that each national entrant in the Gordon Bennet Cup was allocated a unique colour to distinguish the teams from one another, and when Britain first entered the race in 1902 the obvious colours of blue, white and red that correspond with the British flag had been respectively taken by other countries (America, Germany and France).

At the time, motor racing was considered more of a competition between countries instead of a competition between different car manufacturers and drivers. The cars used in thew Gordon Bennet Cup races had to be composed of elements manufactured entirely within their home countries and each car (limited to three entries per a country) had to carry both a driver and mechanic at all times. The cup began in the year 1900, with France winning the initial race. The winning team of the previous year would host the next race, however although the British team won in 1902, local laws meant that motor racing was illegal in Britain at the time and so the race was hosted in Ireland instead.

The first cars to officially feature the green colour were the English Napier cars used in the Gordon Bennett Cup races, manufactured by D. Napier & Son Limited. The driver of the winning Napier car in the 1902 race was Selwyn Edge.

In 1903 the race was to be held in Ireland, and out of respect for the hosts the English cars were painted in a shamrock green. This meant that before British Racing Green as we know it today existed, it was officially a lighter hue more similar to an emerald green, however over time darker shades of green became more and more popular. The exact hue of British Racing Green is still debated over today, however it tends to cover a large spectrum of deeper greens. Colours have ranged from a very light lime green right down to an almost black seen on a Bently, still labelled under the British Racing Green colour.

The colour has been seen on many successful British racing cars from the Sunbeams that won the 1912 Coupe de l'Auto as well as on the cars in the British team that won the European Grand Epreuves Grand Prix in 1923 and 1924. It was also featured frequently on Bently cars in the 1920s that had a high success in the 24 hour races at Le Mans.

It's usage began to phase out in the 1960s were rules regarding racing colours in the Formula One races were relaxed and sponsorship paint jobs became more popular, although it did briefly make a comeback between 2000 and 2004 when the Jaguar F1 team cordoned the colours for their vehicles. There have also been a number of British car manufacturers that have released models in the traditional racing colours including Lotus, Jaguar, MG, Rolls Royce and even the Mini Cooper.

As fuel prices constantly rise and oil reserves are becoming worryingly reduced, electricity is becoming a much more desirable fuel for our transportation and becoming increasingly popular. As well as being by far the greenest way to power your mobility, it comes with a number of other benefits that are worth considering when you are deciding which kind of car to purchase.

The environment - while your car itself does produce zero emissions, it is worth mentioning that unless the means of generating the electricity were environmentally friendly, your car is not completely green. There are solar charging options, and also companies such as GreenPower who produce green electricity you can put into your car to reduce your emissions even further. Electric vehicles tend to be more environmentally conscious right from production, and are often made using eco-friendly materials, reducing your impact further. Some people even have charging stations at their homes, eliminating the need to go to a gas station.

Reducing the harmful emissions from your personal vehicle is also beneficial to your health. By reducing the emissions you are improving the air quality, and owning an electronic vehicle also reduces noise pollution as they tend to be quieter than a petrol or diesel engine.

They're cheaper to run - electricity to power a vehicle can cost as little as a third per a kilometre of the price of a petrol engine. In some places, such as London, there are economic benefits as one doesn't have to pay additional congestion charges when they own certain electric car models that others do. Also in Victoria, Australia, electronic vehicles receive a $100 reduction in registration fees annually. They're also cheaper to maintain as they have a lot less moving parts in the engine than a conventional petrol or diesel engine and no expensive exhaust systems. Electronic vehicle batteries are usually warranted for around 8 years. Some users have reported savings of up to $10,000 a year.

Electronic vehicles are also becoming more popular, which means there is more demand for developments in the market. Over time, the price will continue to reduce and improvements to the vehicles will be made as car companies compete with each other, benefitting the buyers of electronic vehicles.

Electronic vehicles tend to have a lower centre of gravity which basically means they are less likely to roll over. Due to the specifications of their engines they are less likely to catch fire or explode in accidents.

There are a few disadvantages to be aware of when owning an electric vehicle. They do tend to have a limited range as most commercial electric vehicles can't go further than 100 miles on a single recharge. For some people, this is a long way to go and more than sufficient, however for any longer distance travel this is problematic. Refuelling or recharging can take a few hours, and again, for drivers who don't exceed standard milage, providing they remember to charge their car overnight, this isn't a problem, but can be for people who travel further.

Currently there is not too much choice on the market, although this will change quicky over time. The vehicles that are available are initially expensive to buy, however this doesn't represent the long term savings which the user benefits from.

With an increasing awareness of global warming issues and pollution levels, more and more people are opting to use public transport in a way to reduce their effect on the environment. There are numerous articles that discuss how public transport it better than private transport, but here are a few reasons it might be worth hanging onto your car.

Timings - if you own a private a vehicle, you are able to leave the house whenever you want, and to arrive at your destination when it is convenient for you. When you use public transport, however, you rely on bus timetables which may not be optimal to your schedule. This can mean waiting around for busses in the cold, arriving considerably earlier than planned, long connections and longer journey times. Also, you are not relying on others for your punctuality, traffic reliant.

Comfort - private transport tends to be a lot more comfortable than public transport, especially considering that when you use public transport, a certain amount of walking is almost always involved, to and from the station from your house and on the other side between the station and your destination, whereas a car will take you all the way from point to another.

Rural communities - while connections to rural communities are always improving, the infrastructure in some smaller towns and villages is not so strong. In most rural establishments, it is almost always better to own your transport.

Cargo - It is much easier to travel with larger amounts of luggage in your own car instead of hauling it around on crowded busses and trains. This can also have long term health benefits for your back as you don't have to physically carry everything with you.

Specific point access - Public transport can only take you so far, and in cities, this is not so much a problem, but when you want to access national parks and walking trails and places further from the beaten path, it is often extremely difficult, if not impossible to access these places using public transport unless you pay for a taxi as well.

Economic - okay, overall public transport can be considered cheaper when you consider the cost of fuel, tax, maintenance, insurance and the initial cost of the car, but there are a number of ways you can win back some of those hard earned dollars with your car. Ride sharing apps not only reduce your carbon footprint, they can also offset the cost of your fuel as riders pay for your empty seats. You can also create a car pool to and from work.

Weather - your car is a nice warm and cosy haven that blocks out the outside world and optimises your immediate atmosphere. Walking to and from points of public transport can expose to rain, snow, wind, hail, colder temperatures and a whole number of unpleasant experiences. Arriving to work in your car ensures you are dry and looking optimal, however a quick walk in the rain could leave you damp and dripping all afternoon behind your desk.

Emotional - who doesn't love a good drive to your favourite playlist? A number of people find driving very cathartic and, traffic and conditions reliant, it can be very stress relieving.