Diesel is selling twice as fast as petrol and the RAC Foundation forecasts that by 2030 this could be up to four times as fast. Such a large demand means there is the potential for diesel to run dry in Britain. 

The demand for diesel has been rising for decades, and we now consume twice as much as we produce. Reliance on countries including Russia and India to supply the fuel continues to rise, and could leave motorists "at the mercy of the global market" in future, the foundation said.

Half of new cars built are diesel, with resulting in 11 million diesel cars on the road in 2014 compared to just 1.6 million in 1994, but now there is a worry that diesel could run out in Britain because of a growing dependence on foreign fuel.

"Even if we are not in conflict with those countries that control the taps, they might simply decide they need more of what they produce for their own markets," said RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding.

A shortage in the supply could cause a steep rise in diesel costs, and according to the RAC Foundation: “at worst, there is the unlikely but real possibility of pumps running dry.