Currently reading: 2035 combustion engine ban: last chance to have your say

Government seeks views on proposal to ban sales of all new non-zero emission cars and vans by 2035 or earlier

Today is the last day members of the public can submit their views on the government's plans to end the sales of new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars and vans by 2035 or earlier.

The online consultation process was originally due to close at the end of May. However, that end date was extended to the 31st of July, likely to prioritise dealing with the coronavirus pandemic

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the plans in early February, as part of an initiative for the UK to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The government wants to bring forward a planned ban on the sale of petrol- and diesel-engined vehicles from 2040 to 2035 – or earlier “if a faster transition appears feasible” – and expand it to include all non-zero emission cars and vans. That means the ban would include hybrids and plug-in hybrids, which would have been allowed under the original plans.

Autocar's manifesto: Why Government must rethink the 2035 combustion ban

The proposals have a mixed response from sectors of the motor industry, with Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders calling them "extremely concerning", and Ford's European boss, Stuart Rowley" saying they were "not helpful".

In particular, the government is asking for input on the phase out date, the definition of what should be phased out, and barriers to achieving the proposals. It has also asked respondents to consider both the measures required by the government and other groups to achieve the earlier phase out date, and the “impact of these ambitions on different sectors of industry and society.”

Details on where to submit feedback to the proposals are are available on the UK government website.

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James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
Title: Acting magazine editor

James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

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Andrew1 31 July 2020

Bring it forward

Bring in forward, why wait until 2035?We already have the technology, go build wind farm, install solar panels on rural houses and, most importantly, stop subsidising North Sea, it's time to move on.
Peter Cavellini 10 April 2020

The others.

 What is being done to cut emissions from Jet travel?, and what about Ships?, these two forms of travel go round and round the Planet 24/7, anyone know they contribution to global climate change?

Peter Cavellini 9 April 2020

Could it come...

 Could it come to the stage in the future where there will be too many cars on the roads?, gridlock in all major Town's and Cities?, smog returns maybe?, EV power will have to be the norm not the exception, it can't be easy to have to work out how ICE cars can survive and still make the air cleaner that we all breath.