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The Government has confirmed, not for the first time in the last six months, that it will ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030.
The deadline, which aims to phase out 100 percent fossil fuel cars and increase the adoption of electric vehicles, officially reverses the previous government’s decision to delay the ban by five years to 2035.
The 2030 date was clarified once again in recent days when new Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced a consultation on the phase-out deadline, as well as promises to give more clarity to manufacturers and greater confidence to drivers.
Both the industry and motorists have been left in uncertain limbo since Labor came to power, especially considering that the effectiveness and future of the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) demands ever-increasing sales targets for vehicle manufacturers. automobiles.
Could you change the deadline again after consultation? And how have manufacturers responded to the news?
We take a look at the current status of the ban on new petrol and diesel cars.
The Government has confirmed it will go ahead with a ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030. New Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced the move this week.
The ban on cars with internal combustion engines by 2030: what has been announced and what are the changes?
Alexander, who replaced Louise Haigh as transport minister late last year, has confirmed that “no new petrol or diesel cars will be sold after 2030” and that, by 2035, “all new cars and vans will have to be 100% zero emissions.” ‘.
The Labor Party has said this will “restore clarity for manufacturers, provide renewed confidence to investors in charging infrastructure and give confidence to consumers considering making the switch”.
The announcement is part of the consultation launched by the Department for Transport (DfT) on the phasing out of new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030.
While this primarily involves the government collaborating with the automotive industry and charging point providers to facilitate the transition, the public is also asked to share their views.
Labor said it will “restore clarity for manufacturers, provide renewed confidence to investors in charging infrastructure and give confidence to consumers considering making the switch”.
How will the 2030 ban affect drivers?
The key takeaway for drivers is that after 2030 they will not be able to buy a new petrol or diesel car.
Whether or not you will be able to purchase a new hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle remains to be seen and will be discussed with car manufacturers and industry players as part of the consultation.
You will still be able to drive petrol and diesel and hybrid cars after 2030, but you will not be able to buy new petrol or diesel cars. It will be consulted if you will be able to purchase new hybrid cars.
What cars will I be able to drive after 2030?
You will be able to continue driving gasoline and diesel cars and hybrids, and you will also be able to buy used examples.
The only difference is that you won’t be able to buy any new petrol or diesel cars and the manufacturers won’t sell them.
However, it is worth bearing in mind that disincentives are likely to be put in place to persuade people to stop driving petrol and diesel cars, which could come in the form of taxes or even parking restrictions and increased charges. for fuel cars.
You can also continue driving classic internal combustion cars without restrictions.
The 2030 ban deadline has already been brought forward: will it stick this time?
The ban on new petrol and diesel cars, originally introduced by Boris Johnson in November 2020, was planned for 2030. However, the Conservative party had also previously proposed it for 2040 and 2035, before deciding to end the ban. decade.
However, in October 2023, then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak postponed the ban from 2030 to 2035, citing financial reasons including the high upfront cost of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure restrictions.
He also stated that acceptance is already at a good level.
Sunak explained: “I think, at least for now, it should be you, the consumer, making that decision, not the government forcing you to do so.”
In the run-up to the 2024 general election, a major promise as part of Labour’s manifesto was to reset the 2030 deadline, as well as doubling up the provision of charge points to help achieve this.
The key commitment of the automotive sector was established to give certainty to manufacturers and help reduce emissions.
However, after Labor won the election, the new Government did not officially confirm that 2030 would be restored as promised, and did not mention it in the King’s speech.
In August 2024, This is Money first revealed that Labor was going to reset the year 2030, after industry insiders told us they had received written confirmation from the Department for Transport and the Office for Zero Vehicles. Emissions (OZEV).
This was later reiterated in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget.
Official announcement this week from the Department of Transportation. brings public clarity to both manufacturers and drivers.
While there are no guarantees that the deadline will not change again, or that another general election will not change the plans, it can be assumed that 2030 will remain, at least under a Labor government.
Electric future: ZEV mandate will force automakers to sell increasing volumes of electric vehicles by 2035
How is the automotive industry affected and what is being done to support it?
One of the biggest problems for the auto industry is that the 2030 deadline keeps changing.
As an industry, automotive plans decades and cycles in advance, making it incredibly difficult to change production in the blink of an eye. For this reason, manufacturers have been asking for “clarity” for years.
Matt Galvin, UK managing director of Swedish electric vehicle brand Polestar, told This is Money last year: “What vehicle manufacturers need is certainty to support product lifecycle planning.”
When 2030 was originally pushed back to 2035, Lisa Brankin, president of Ford UK, told us: ‘Our business needs three things from the UK government: ambition, commitment and consistency. A relaxation until 2030 would undermine all three.’
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Brankin added: “All we really need are government-backed incentives to urgently drive uptake of electric vehicles.”
Ford UK’s Lisa Brankin said the car company had invested millions in its development and manufacturing facilities to meet the 2030 deadline.
In light of recent news, it is not surprising that manufacturers such as Stellantis and Ford have “welcomed” the confirmation of the 2030 deadline, as well as the consultation.
But they still warn that more “incentives” are needed to ensure private adoption of electric vehicles.
Paul Philpott, president and chief executive of Kia UK, said express car: “If the level of demand from retail customers is not what is necessary to achieve the future objectives of the ZEV mandate, then we must implement incentives to generate momentum.”
An example sure to polarize opinion is another “scrappage scheme” in which Philpott says: “We all remember the scrappage scheme of 2009, 2010 and the relatively modest government incentives – this saved the car industry for two years.”
When does the DfT consultation end?
The consultation will end at 11.59pm on 18 February and the DfT will work with stakeholders to implement the suggestions.
How can you give your opinion?
You can contribute your views to the consultation by completing a response form found on the government website and sending it to the email address provided.
Or you can write to the following address:
ZEV Regulations Team
Department of Transportation
Great Ministerial House on the 3rd Floor
33 Horse Ferry Highway
London
SW1P 4DR
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