
In November 2020, the government announced that new petrol and diesel cars will be prohibited to be sold in the UK from 2030. All new vehicles must be fully zero emissions from 2035.
What is the transition plan for zero emission on cars and vans?
The governments plan is to put in a EV home charge scheme to focus on leaseholders, renters and those living in flats. This is scheduled to be done in 2022-2023.
In 2023-2024, the government will put 6 rapid charge points at every motorway service area.
A full re-view will be undertaken by the government by 2025, and the governments cars and vans will be 100% zero emission by 2027.
The sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans are to be phased out by 2030. The government also plan to install at least 2,500 high powered charge points across the road network. All the new cars and vans are to be zero emissions from 2030 to 2035. By 2035, all new cars and vans will be 100% zero emissions.
The market for zero and low emission cars and vans
There are now over 500,000 zero and ultra-low emission vehicles on the UK road. The market for zero emission cars is increasing, with more than a 60% increase since 2019, due to the market for these vehicles being more affordable and being priced under £35,000.
What is the plug-in car grant?
The plug-in car grant, is a grant that the government has put in place to help people purchase a zero emissions car. The government will give up to £2,500 towards purchasing a zero emissions vehicle, as long as the car price is under £35,000. This grant will be in place until at least 2022 to 2023.
Many manufactures have reduced the prices of the new vehicles, so that people qualify for the government grant.
What is the plug-in van grant?
The government has also put in place a plug-in van grant to give people more an incentive to purchase a van with a plug. The plug-in van grant, provides a grant of up to £3,000 for a 2.5 tonnes van and a grant of up to £6,000 for 2.5-3.5 tonnes van. This grant will also be available until at least 2022-2023.
What does this mean for Hybrid Vehicles?
The governments plan is to ban all sales of new petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles from 2035. However, the government has said that the new hybrid cars and vans that drive a significant distance with no carbon coming out of the tailpipe will be allowed to remain on sale until 2035.
Renault officials have said, that they will be making a request to delay the ban on sales of new Hybrid Vehicles to 2040, instead of 2035. Renault has said that they need more time to adjust their factories and adapt their workforce. Furthermore, they said that by only selling full electric vehicles in 2035 will have an impact for people affording these vehicles.
On the other hand, Vauxhall announced that they will ditch the petrol and diesel engine vehicles by 2028 and will only sell full-electric cars and vans in the UK. This means that Vauxhall will be 2 years ahead of the governments schedule.
Can petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles drive on the road after 2030?
The governments plan, is to ban selling new petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles, but you will still be allowed to drive these vehicles on the UK roads. However, there will be certain changes and charges in place for doing so.
Remember that only plug-in and full hybrid vehicles will be permitted to be on sale from 2030 until 2035.
It is said that by 2040 the only vehicles that will be sold will be electric vehicles, and roughly half of the vehicles on the roads will still be powered by fossil fuels.