A ban on diesel cars isn’t the best path to cleaner air.

A recent decision in Germany’s top administrative court to uphold cities’ right to ban diesel passenger cars is a knee-jerk reaction to the emissions scandal that has plagued Volkswagen. Some may call it a courageous attempt to save our planet, but this ruling is a hyper-politicized decision that will not accelerate progress toward an emissions-free transportation system.

Here in California, some legislators want to ban the commercial sale of vehicles that run on combustion engines by 2040. But millions of dollars continues to fund research to develop legitimately eco-friendly diesel engines. And despite the 2015 VW scandal, diesel emits a fifth less carbon dioxide than petroleum engines.

It is shortsighted to assume that diesel bans will solve climate challenges, without considering the energy used in other forms of transportation. Some believe such bans will accelerate the push into electric vehicles, but this ignores accessibility, affordability and the impact on poor and working-class families.

The average cost of an EV is about $50,000 while the median income is only $72,919. Diesel cars are $13,000 less than an electric vehicle and $4,000 less than a hybrid. Often regarded as today’s leader in EV technology, even Tesla has struggled to create a vehicle available at a price suitable for the middle class.

OPINION

Also, the U.S. only has 17,000 EV charging stations, including 4,000 in California, while more than half of all gas stations offer diesel fuel. Electric vehicle sales aren’t growing. In California, where EVs are more popular and the infrastructure is more widespread, they add up to just five percent of sales and mostly to wealthier, repeat customers.