Electric vehicle infrastructure is vital for transition says expert
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is under pressure to push back the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles but Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has said it is an “immovable” deadline.
Mr Sunak declined to commit to the ban on Monday but Downing Street has since insisted that it remains official policy as part of the UK’s drive to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
Mr Gove confirmed this during an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Tuesday, saying: “We’re committed to maintaining our policy of ensuring that by 2030 there are no new petrol and diesel cars being sold.
“I’m sure there are some people who would like to change that policy, I understand. But that policy remains.”
Tory MP and Cop-26 President Alok Sharma later said: “Good to have Michael Gove clarifying that there will be no change in government policy on new petrol/diesel phase-out date.”
READ MORE: Growing calls to delay 2030 ban for new petrol and diesel vehicles
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Yet some Tory MPs have called for Mr Sunak to reconsider some of his green initiatives and delay the shift to electric vehicles. Former Business Secretary Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg said that scrapping the 2030 ban would be a “real opportunity” for the Conservative Party to help gain support at the next general election.
Chair of the Net Zero Scrutiny Group, Tory MP Craig Mackinlay said the 2030 deadline was “looking increasingly flawed”.
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He said: “Putting aside the lack of electricity supply and rollout of a charging network, the domination of China in the supply chain for the rare metals required for batteries should cause further concern.
“Uniquely, the UK stands alone with the 2030 date. The EU and the US has kicked the date down the road to 2035, with Germany pushing for a perpetual exemption for synthetic fuel-powered traditional engines. We are likely to see our successful car industry decimated and oil refining capacity relocating abroad.”
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