The government has announced plans to bring forward an end to the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2040 to 2035, or earlier if a faster transition becomes feasible.
The move, which will be subject to a consultation later this year, will also include a ban on the sale of new hybrid vehicles - meaning that only pure electric cars and vans will be available on the market within 15 years from today.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson made the announcement while launching proceedings for COP26, the next landmark UN climate summit which will take place in Glasgow in November.
Confirming the decision, transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “Last year, a fully electric car was sold every 15 minutes [in the UK]. We want to go further than ever before. That’s why we are bringing forward our already ambitious target to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars to tackle climate change and reduce emissions.”
The government’s current Road to Zero strategy for electric vehicles aims for at least half of new cars and up to 40 per cent of vans to be ‘ultra low emission’ by 2030, but this may now be revisited.
‘Your next car should have a plug’
Andy Eastlake, managing director of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP), said the shortened target “will heighten ambition and focus minds”.
“The target will be challenging for industry and drivers, but if we are to meet the 2050 net zero commitment we must raise our level of ambition in road transport”, he added.
“Latest information on the fall in battery prices points to electric vehicles achieving price parity with conventional cars within the next five years. But there are already very significant fuel and other cost savings for EV drivers so switching is already a good financial proposition for many. In simple terms, for the typical driver the aim is that your next car should have a plug, and the one after that should have no engine!”
