Aired Sunday 15 December, 2:20am - 3:20amon BBC Four HD

Timeshift

Series 15 Episode 3: The Engine That Powers the World

The surprising story of the hidden powerhouse behind the globalised world - the diesel engine, a 19th-century invention that has become indispensable to the 21st. It's a turtle versus hare tale in which the diesel engine races the petrol engine in a competition to replace ageing steam technology - a race eventually won hands down by diesel. Car enthusiast presenter Mark Evans gets excitedly hands on with some of the many applications of Mr Diesel's original creation.

Category
Documentary / History
Original air date
23/09/2015
Cast and crew
  • Steve O'HaganDirector
  • Mark EvansHost