According to The Times, ministers are considering fast-tracking the ban for 2030 in a desperate bid to reduce climate emissions. The new target will be part of a wider consultation on the phasing out of vehicles reliant on fossil fuel technology. The plans are also set to help the government meet its 2050 zero-carbon target as it will allow two decades to transition into fully electric vehicles.
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Britons furious at diesel and petrol BAN
It is believed the change in policy would be after the Committee of Climate Change recommended the ban be brought forward.
Just days ago climate experts told Express.co.uk how the UK government should ban the sale of traditional cars by 2030.
The dramatic shift would be the third target set in just one week after two government officials confirmed different details.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the government would like to reduce the proposed ban date to 2035 in a five-year reduction on the original 2040 promise.
However, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps revealed the ban could come into effect as early as 2032.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live yesterday, Mr Shapps said the government are consulting on the earlier 2032 implementation date.
Bringing the new car sales ban forward to 2030 would bring the UK level with countries such as Denmark, Iceland and Sweden.
The Netherlands has committed to a ban on the running of all petrol and diesel cars by 2030 in a radical move.
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Speaking to The Times, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said: “Government has said it wants to fast-track the date, but it has also been clear this should only be as soon as is feasible.”
The comments come just days after the SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes warned the government appeared to be moving the goalposts with the petrol and diesel ban.
He said accelerating the plans would take more than industry investment and called upon the government to reveal how they could meet their ambitions.
The AA described the 2035 car ban was stretching targets which would make it challenging to meet the requirements.
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This is because banning petrol and diesel cars are expected to cause a surge in sales for electric vehicles.
SMMT data shows electric car sales were dramatically boosted last year with a 144 percent rise.
However, EV machines currently make up just under two percent of the UK car market due to expensive upfront costs and concerns over the range.
Surveys have revealed this “range anxiety” – fear of breaking down without anywhere to charge a car – is one of the leading issues behind the lack of sales.
Grant Shapps tried to ease concerns yesterday buy declaring the government was investing £1.5billion in the transition to electric.
He said the government was committed to working with domestic car producers and was due to meet manufacturers today to discuss the transition.
The Transport Secretary has previously claimed there were more electric charging stations than petrol forecourts in the UK.
However, analysis of ZapMap showed these are mainly located in urban hotspots such as London.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, an AA spokesman revealed a transition to electric would require a series of rapid chatting stations to be installed across the UK.
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