Governments love diesel. Not for its smell—for its tax potential. In many countries, diesel is slapped with a higher excise duty. Why? Because big trucks use it. And trucks wreck roads faster. You pay for the potholes you drive over.
There’s a hilarious twist. Some governments wanted people to buy diesel cars for lower CO2 emissions back in the day. They subsidized it. Now they’ve flipped the script. They tax it to discourage pollution. Whoops.
Why Diesel Usually Costs More Than Gasoline – R-Squared Energy
Diesel emits more nasty stuff—like nitrogen oxides and soot. Doctors hate it. Environmentalists hate it. So your local finance minister thinks: “Let’s make it expensive. That’ll fix the air.” It doesn’t always work, but it sure stings.
