Official: Government to ban new petrol and diesel car sales in 2030

The Prime Minister has confirmed that the UK government is bringing forward its ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel-engined cars and vans from 2040 until 2030 – although some hybrids will be allowed until 2035.

The widely anticipated move to electric cars was confirmed by Boris Johnson in a column he wrote for the Financial Times. The ban is part of a 10-point plan that he has set out to make the UK carbon-neutral by 2050.

READ MORE: Prime minister casts doubt on 2030 combustion car ban

Johnson wrote that the government will "invest more than £2.8 billion in electric vehicles, lacing the land with charging points and creating long-lasting batteries in UK gigafactories. This will allow us to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in 2030."

While 2030 is a full decade ahead of the initial date by which the government planned to ban sales of new combustion-engined vehicles, certain hybrid cars and vans "that can drive a significant distance when no carbon is coming out of the tailpipe" will be allowed to be sold until 2035. The Department for Transport has said that hybrids with "the capability to drive a significant distance with zero emissions (e.g. plug in hybrids or full hybrids)," adding that the specific of this "will be defined through consultation." Hydrogen vehicles will be allowed to be sold as they are zero-emission vehicles. 

The Department for Transport has said that it will published a Green Paper in the coming months that will set out the UK's post-EU regulatory regime for CO2 emissions from new vehicles. It said this will consider overall fleet efficiency as well ass how to best deliver the transition to zero emission cars and vansd by 2030.

The £2.8bn investment includes £1.3bn investment to accelerate the roll-out of EV charging points “in homes, streets and on motorways across England”.  The government has also pledged £582 million in grants to buyers of zero- or ultra-low-emissions vehicles.

The government has also pledged to spend £500m in the next four years to aid the development of mass-sale EV battery production in the UK. That latter commitment is part of a wider £1bn package to boost investment in UK manufacturing bases, including the Midlands and North East.

A total of 75,946 new electric cars have been sold in the UK so far in 2020, accounting for 5.5% of the total of 1,384,601. That represents a 168.7% year-on-year increase, with the market expanding rapidly as manufacturers rapidly roll out new EVs.

Given the likely growth, several manufacturers have already committed to ending pure-ICE sales before 2030. Bentley recently announced that it would sell only electric cars from 2030, while Volvo is committed to only offering electric or plug-in hybrid models from 2025.

A number of European countries have announced dates for ending the sale of combustion-engined cars, but the UK's is among the most ambitious. Norway has set a target of 2025, although around 50% of cars sold in the country are electric already, thanks to heavy incentives. Germany is also looking at a 2030 ban, while France has set a target of 2040.

The UK government has also launched a consultation on the phase out of new diesel HGV sales to “put the UK in the vanguard of zero-emission freight”. 

Car makers' reaction to the 2030 ban

Bentley chairman Adrian Hallmark said: “Bentley welcomes clarity on the future law for the UK car market, and will be ready for the end of sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles from 2035. We are the first UK based car manufacturer to already announce both the ambition of end-to-end carbon-neutrality and the intention to only manufacture fully electric vehicles by 2030 – a huge transformation in just nine years for a 100-year-old company, built on the legendary V8 6.75-litre and the W12 technology that leads the world today.

“We also welcome the recognition that PHEVs can have in the transition to a fully electric car parc and the key role they can play in immediate and significant CO2 reductions if used properly. Bentley customers are already embracing the plug-in vehicle, with a third owning one today.

“We also acknowledge the government’s new ambitious yet necessary targets and timelines, and the focus now needs to shift onto creating and implementing a cross-industry plan to bring infrastructure and customers along on this important journey. Bentley is ready to transform itself and support the wider UK mission to meet this challenge.”

Vauxhall boss Steve Norman told the BBC that the 2030 dates was "a little bit tighter than we were expecting" but added that "plans are in place to meet that goal – and meet it we're going to have to".

Jaguar Land Rover, Britain's biggest car manufacturer, said: "At Jaguar Land Rover, we have already embraced the direction of the government’s announcement, investing heavily in fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles for a zero-emissions future. Our award-winning [Jaguar] I-Pace was the first premium all-electric SUV launched to global critical acclaim.”

Industry's reaction to the 2030 ban

Mike Hawes, the chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said: “We share government’s ambition for leadership in decarbonising road transport and are committed to the journey. Manufacturers have invested billions to deliver vehicles that are already helping thousands of drivers switch to zero, but this new deadline, fast-tracked by a decade, sets an immense challenge.

"We are pleased, therefore, to see government accept the importance of hybrid transition technologies – which drivers are already embracing as they deliver carbon savings now – and commit to additional spending on purchase incentives."

Hawes added that the success of the government target would depend on EV drivers being able to "recharge as easily as they refuel". He added: "For that, we look to others to step up and match our commitment. We will now work with government on the detail of this plan, which must be delivered at pace to achieve a rapid transition that benefits all of society and safeguards UK automotive manufacturing and jobs.”

James McGeachie, the technical and programme director of the LowCVP industry and government group, said: “This is a key moment in terms of the transition to net-zero in road transport. The extended phase-out for some hybrid vehicles gives industry a bit longer to adapt and vehicle users the opportunity to drive electric miles where public charging infrastructure needs further development.

“It’s vital that all cars with engines and plugs attached substitute as many petrol or diesel journeys for zero-emission miles as possible, and helping users understand how to do this will be critical. LowCVP is working on plans to help make sure this happens." 

Sue Robinson, the head of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), said: “Franchised retailers play a crucial role in the transition to EVs, and they have been making huge efforts to encourage the uptake of zero-emission vehicles, engaging with consumers and informing them about the benefits of owning an EV.

“The new deadline is challenging and, despite the continued improvement to the charging infrastructure, there remain a number of practical barriers to the uptake of EVs."

Robinson added that current government incentives have "been effective in stimulating consumer demand", adding: "Strong incentives are key to ensuring the UK remains a strong consumer market for electric cars as the market begins to mature. We have to avoid a situation where the least well-off car drivers are deterred from buying a new car when the time comes to replace their old one.

Brian Madderson, the chairman of the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), said that, while the organisation supported the goal of reducing carbon emissions, “The plan to ban sales of internal-combustion-engine vehicles by 2030 will force the UK to become dependent on Chinese battery technology.

"Our members strongly feel that government has not done enough to develop low-carbon liquid fuels and hydrogen as an alternative to EVs, particularly when the German authorities are investing €7bn into speeding up the market roll-out of hydrogen technology."