Since the numerous diesel emissions scandals of recent years, the most high profile of which was the Dieselgate scandal of 2015, it has been revealed that the levels of toxic emissions coming from diesel cars are higher and pose a greater risk to human health than those of vehicles powered by other means. In response, the image of the diesel car took a hit with consumers, resale values of diesel cars dropped and hundreds of cities in Europe started banning older diesel cars to curb air pollution, including Paris, Hamburg and Madrid. According to the German environment agency, diesel cars have a 39% share in German urban nitrogen dioxide pollution levels. In comparision to that, the share of diesel-powered busses and lorries is significantly lower. From a peak of 52% market share of new cars sold in Europe being diesel powered, by 2018, this number had declined to 36.%. In September 2020, European market share of electric cars was higher than for diesel cars.