Consultation launched over petrol and diesel car phase-out
Consultations have been launched on phasing out new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.
The government said this would “restore clarity” to carmakers and the charging industry.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander wants input from car and charging experts on how to deliver on Labour’s manifesto pledge to restore the 2030 deadline.
Under the previous Conservative government, this deadline was extended to 2035.
The measure comes amid a row between the government and the car industry over a phaseout of sales of new petrol and diesel cars.
Last month, Ford said the UK government was requiring the production and sale of more electric vehicles (EVs) It “won’t work” without demand.
Ford UK chairman and managing director Lisa Brankin told BBC Radio 4’s Today program at the time: “One of the things we really need is government-backed incentives to urgently promote electric vehicles. The popularity of automobiles.”
The transport minister said the automotive industry had been “hampered by a lack of certainty and direction” over the past few years.
“This administration will change that,” she added.
The consultation proposes an update to the Zero Emission Vehicles (Zev) Directive, which sets out the percentage of new zero-emission cars and vans that manufacturers need to sell each year by 2030.
More than two-thirds of Britain’s carmakers, including Stellantis, have pledged to switch entirely to electric vehicles by this year.
However, companies have also announced thousands of layoffs, Partly due to electric vehicle targets.
The Department for Transport said the consultation would “bring clarity back to car manufacturers and the charging industry” so that they “have the confidence to invest in the UK in the long term and drive growth in the UK automotive industry”.
The Energy and Climate Intelligence Agency think tank said the UK would meet its target because the directive takes into account points earned from the sale of low-emission hybrid petrol and diesel cars as well as pure electric vehicles.
According to the think tank, the 22% required by each manufacturer would be the industry average.
Alexander said electric vehicles accounted for a quarter of UK car sales last month and drivers were “already embracing them faster than ever before”.
She added: “Today’s measures will help us harness the clean energy transition to support thousands of jobs, make the UK a clean energy superpower and rebuild the UK.”
The government said the consultation was also part of a “wider push” to make charging electric vehicles easier and cheaper.
There are currently over 72,000 public charging points in the UK, with authorities across England planning to build a further 100,000.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of car industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said the industry welcomed the government’s “review of end dates for sales of pure petrol or diesel cars, as well as possible changes to flexibility for electric vehicles”. Zero Emission Vehicles Directive”.
He added: “These are critical questions for an industry facing significant challenges globally as it attempts to decarbonize ahead of natural market demands.”
“With the market facing increased pressure in 2025, we urgently need an urgent solution that clearly aligns regulations to support delivery, coupled with bold incentives to stimulate demand,” Hawes said.
