Today, Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan reiterated the Government’s prohibition on the sale of new gasoline and diesel automobiles beginning in 2030.
The policy is a key component of the ministers’ efforts to achieve the goal of having net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050.
Despite worries about a scarcity of components, Ms. Trevelyan has committed to replacing gasoline and diesel vehicles with electric cars and vans.
There are worries that the Covid-19 pandemic-related worldwide scarcity of computer chips, together with production issues with adequate batteries, will hinder the expansion of the market for electric vehicles.
In order to prepare British drivers for the ban on new gasoline and diesel cars, industry organizations are also putting pressure on the government to guarantee that there is a major increase in on-street charging sites and quick chargers.
Ms. Trevelyan denounced as “absolutely incorrect” rumors that she may lower plans for expanding electric vehicle sales up to 2030 notwithstanding the present challenges encountered by automakers in delivering electric cars.
The Department for Transport said earlier this year that it aimed for zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) to account for 22% of new automobile sales from manufacturers in 2024, 33% in 2026, 52% in 2028, and 80% in 2030.
The sales of zero-emission vans have similar goals.
Between 2030 and 2035, new vehicles and vans may be sold provided they have the potential to go a substantial distance without emitting any emissions. The government wants all new automobiles and vans to be entirely zero emission at the tailpipe by that time.
After consulting with the industry, the DfT plans to enact legally enforceable objectives for its ZEV sales goals by 2024.
According to the Transport Secretary, suggestions that she was about to accept softer objectives for automakers as a result of industry pressure were “absolutely incorrect” and “not being considered at all.”
These assertions are false, and we remain steadfast in our promise to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles and vans by 2030, according to a DfT official.
“The switch to electric cars is taking place all over the globe, and by committing £2.5 billion to the transition, we are helping the UK become a global leader in this field.
In comparison to their gasoline and diesel equivalents, electric cars “provide huge chances for savings owing to cheaper charging, fewer maintenance costs, and tax benefits – not to mention the potential for generating growth and employment in the UK.”
New gasoline and diesel vehicle sales will be prohibited starting in 2030, however old gasoline and diesel cars and vans will still be available for purchase.