The UK government has launched a consultation to phase out new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030, sparking debate among industry experts.
Consultation Launched Over Petrol Car Phase-Out
The UK government has announced a consultation over the phasing-out of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. The ban on sales of these vehicles was initially set to be extended to 2035 under the previous Conservative government, but Labour‘s election manifesto pledged to restore the 2030 deadline.
Industry Experts Weigh In
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is seeking views from automotive and charging experts to “restore clarity” on how to deliver the ban. Industry leaders have warned that drivers are not switching to electric vehicles at the rate needed to meet the deadline due to the cost of buying the cars privately and charging point infrastructure.
Ford UK’s chair and managing director, Lisa Brankin, stated that government-backed incentives are urgently needed to boost the uptake of electric vehicles. The Department for Transport said the consultation would “restore clarity for vehicle manufacturers and the charging industry” so they can invest in the UK with confidence and drive growth in the automotive industry.
Charging Infrastructure and Hybrid Sales
The government is part of a “wider push” to make it easier and cheaper to charge electric cars. There are now over 72,000 public charging points in the UK, with another 100,000 planned by local authorities across England. Electric vehicles (EVs) made up one in four cars sold in the UK, according to Alexander.
Edmund King, president of the AA, said drivers have been “hesitant about the transition but not hostile” and that the consultation would bring more clarity and certainty. Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, emphasized the need for an urgent resolution to adapt the mandate and bold incentives to get drivers to buy electric vehicles.
Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate
The Zero Emission Vehicle (Zev) mandate sets out the percentage of new zero emission cars and vans that manufacturers will be required to sell each year up to 2030. In 2024, EVs must make up 22% of a carmaker’s car sales, and 10% of van sales. Firms failing to meet these targets face a £15,000 fine per sale.
Companies can avoid fines by buying “credits” from firms that have exceeded their quotas for electric car sales or “borrowing” allowances from future years. The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit think tank noted that the target required to be achieved by each manufacturer was due to be reached as an average across the industry because these credits would be taken into account.
Industry Commitment and Job Cuts
More than two-thirds of car manufacturers in the UK, including Stellantis, have committed to transitioning fully to electric cars by 2030. However, firms have also announced thousands of job cuts partly due to EV targets. The SMMT attributed a sharp decline in UK car production in October 2024 to weak demand and a significant decrease in exports.
The consultation aims to gather views on which cars can be sold alongside zero emission vehicles from 2030, including full hybrids and plug-in hybrids, as well as the strategy for vans and the policy for small volume manufacturers.
