I am somewhat surprised that the major car manufacturers do not provide a fuel capacity upgrade option - particularly as many have dispensed with a full size spare in favour of a can of goo.

The space taken by a typical 17" wheel is around 70 L which would comfortably double the range of the typical repmobile.

Therefore I don't think range anxiety is the reason for diesel preference - probably more to do with habit, flexible driving experience, lower car tax, etc.

Some makers do - Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen to my knowledge.

I have a 100 litre tank in my VW Touareg, gives me a practical range of 750 miles on long hauls, less if it's urban use.

It's only battery electrics that have range anxiety - diesels, petrols, hybrids and plug-in hybrids can be readily refueled in a few minutes.

I am somewhat surprised that the major car manufacturers do not provide a fuel capacity upgrade option -

On the latest Audi A4 a larger tank is an upgrade option

Very much agree with this ... so many manufacturers put puny small fuel tanks on their cars, 40 - 45 litres, for the longer distance driver (or commuter) the range is very poor indeed.

Edited by Smileyman on 15/06/2017 at 00:27

Not really sure range anxiety makes sense even for long distance trips. 400 miles is well within the range of most normally fuelled cars and will probably take between 6 - 8 hours driving depending on limits, conditions etc.

There may be a few of us with iron clad bladders happy to subsist on chocolate bars and crisps. But on long drives - eg: south of France to UK - I find a routine develops : 200m/3hrs coffee, facilities, 400m/6hrs coffee, facilities, petrol. Adds about 5 minutes to the stopped time.

Incidentally hybrids may not be the future. The only benefits could be in town where electric only below 30mph would displace city pollution to the suburbs, and fitting a smaller lighter ICE supplemented by a small battery for acceleration..

Fundamentally the energy required to make a car go is related to weight, size and aerodynamic efficiency. Hybrids typically add complexity, weight and cost. A Prius driven (say) 1000miles over assorted roads will use just as much fuel as its petrol only equivalent, and more than a diesel.

My personal view, and I don't like it, is that the people still buying or choosing company cars as diesels will regret it very shortly. Phillip Hammond has already stated that anybody buying a diesel car should think twice about it which to me says he has given everyone fair warning and when he stings diesel drivers in the next budget he will get away with it on the grounds of protecting the environment. One sure way to raise extra money without too much trouble. He does not have that many opportunities to raise much more without bother with his current majority. Plus the fact the so called motoring journalists keep recommending them.

Politicians hints are as worthless as their promises - and sometimes even their legislation gets amended or repealed very quickly.

Without getting too political, this government is clinging on by the skin on their teeth - alienating half the electorate currently running diesels would be the last straw.