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Sales of new cars with an internal combustion engine - be they petrol, diesel, hybrid or plug-in hybrid - could be banned from 2030 according to reports, a date that would be "devastating" to the UK's car industry and the 823,000 jobs it supports, according to a senior automotive boss.
A 2030 ban would effectively leave electric cars and any hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles that may be available as the only options for buyers after a new set of wheels at the end of the decade.
But Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), slammed the idea of banning the internal combustion engine by 2030, warning neither industry, nor charging infrastructure or consumers, would be ready for that date.
"The range of electrified vehicles on the market today is ever increasing", Hawes said, "but we need a fully-funded strategy that mandates a massive investment in infrastructure, helps all consumers to make the switch and supports a competitive UK industry."
People working in the automotive world "applaud ambition", Hawes added, before warning: "pulling forward the phase-out date by a decade to 2030 could have a devastating impact on the UK automotive industry and jobs, with the equally unintended consequence of undermining sales of today’s low emission technologies, which are needed to make environmental improvements now.”
The reports of a 2030 ban come as sales of electric and hybrid cars overlook diesel models between April and June this year, with 33,000 new EVs and hybrids registered, versus 29,900 diesel cars.
It was the summer of 2017 when the Government first announced new petrol and diesel cars would be banned from sale in the future. A date of 2040 was initially given, and early indications were that plug-in hybrids, and maybe even conventional hybrids, would be spared the axe.
But ministers soon began increasing both the clarity and ambition of their plans, first by declaring that new hybrids and plug-in hybrids would be banned alongside their petrol and diesel powered counterparts, before mooting that a date of 2035 might be on the cards for the sale of cars and vans with any kind of internal combustion engine.
If new reports are to be believed, however, those goalposts could soon shift again, with numerous sources indicating a date of 2030 looks likely. According to the Guardian, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was due to announce the 2030 date in September, but that has now been pushed back to Autumn, with November a likely month for the official announcement.
The newspaper reports that the 2030 date is backed by the Committee on Climate Change - a central but independent body formed in response to the Climate Change Act of 2008. That committee previously recommended sales of new internal combustion-engined cars should be banned from 2032.
The Times, meanwhile, reports that the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, supports accelerating the ban. Mr Shapps is said to be an advocate of electric cars and drives an electric car himself - though he also has a private plane.
Senior politicians may be keen on the acceleration of the ban on petrol and diesel power, but MPs away from Westminster and chauffeur-driven ministerial cars are concerned things are moving too quickly.
The campaign group FairFuelUK spoke to “dozens” of members of parliament after The Times and the Daily Mail reported that “more than 100” Conservative MPs were urging the Government to bring the ban forward.
Karl McCartney, the Conservative MP for Lincoln, told FairFuelUK: “No fellow Backbenchers are convinced to reference this 100 number. Various colleagues privately contacted me, including those involved directly with the issue, to confirm that they do not believe the 100 number either. So, claims by Daily Mail & The Times originally are bogus & unsubstantiated.”
Craig Mackinlay, who represents the South Thanet constituency for the Conservatives, said: “You can be absolutely, doubly sure, that this MP is not & will not be among them [supporting the 2030 ban].”
What kind of car should you buy today? We examine the petrol, diesel, electric and hybrid options here...
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A 2030 ban would effectively leave electric cars and any hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles that may be available as the only options for buyers after a new set of wheels at the end of the decade.
But Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), slammed the idea of banning the internal combustion engine by 2030, warning neither industry, nor charging infrastructure or consumers, would be ready for that date.
"The range of electrified vehicles on the market today is ever increasing", Hawes said, "but we need a fully-funded strategy that mandates a massive investment in infrastructure, helps all consumers to make the switch and supports a competitive UK industry."
People working in the automotive world "applaud ambition", Hawes added, before warning: "pulling forward the phase-out date by a decade to 2030 could have a devastating impact on the UK automotive industry and jobs, with the equally unintended consequence of undermining sales of today’s low emission technologies, which are needed to make environmental improvements now.”
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The reports of a 2030 ban come as sales of electric and hybrid cars overlook diesel models between April and June this year, with 33,000 new EVs and hybrids registered, versus 29,900 diesel cars.
It was the summer of 2017 when the Government first announced new petrol and diesel cars would be banned from sale in the future. A date of 2040 was initially given, and early indications were that plug-in hybrids, and maybe even conventional hybrids, would be spared the axe.
But ministers soon began increasing both the clarity and ambition of their plans, first by declaring that new hybrids and plug-in hybrids would be banned alongside their petrol and diesel powered counterparts, before mooting that a date of 2035 might be on the cards for the sale of cars and vans with any kind of internal combustion engine.
If new reports are to be believed, however, those goalposts could soon shift again, with numerous sources indicating a date of 2030 looks likely. According to the Guardian, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was due to announce the 2030 date in September, but that has now been pushed back to Autumn, with November a likely month for the official announcement.
The newspaper reports that the 2030 date is backed by the Committee on Climate Change - a central but independent body formed in response to the Climate Change Act of 2008. That committee previously recommended sales of new internal combustion-engined cars should be banned from 2032.
The Times, meanwhile, reports that the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, supports accelerating the ban. Mr Shapps is said to be an advocate of electric cars and drives an electric car himself - though he also has a private plane.
Senior politicians may be keen on the acceleration of the ban on petrol and diesel power, but MPs away from Westminster and chauffeur-driven ministerial cars are concerned things are moving too quickly.
The campaign group FairFuelUK spoke to “dozens” of members of parliament after The Times and the Daily Mail reported that “more than 100” Conservative MPs were urging the Government to bring the ban forward.
Karl McCartney, the Conservative MP for Lincoln, told FairFuelUK: “No fellow Backbenchers are convinced to reference this 100 number. Various colleagues privately contacted me, including those involved directly with the issue, to confirm that they do not believe the 100 number either. So, claims by Daily Mail & The Times originally are bogus & unsubstantiated.”
Craig Mackinlay, who represents the South Thanet constituency for the Conservatives, said: “You can be absolutely, doubly sure, that this MP is not & will not be among them [supporting the 2030 ban].”
What kind of car should you buy today? We examine the petrol, diesel, electric and hybrid options here...
Continue reading...