Delays Have Dangerous Ends

EXCERPT

Industry and consumers had previously expected that only new cars and vans which were fully electric or had “significant zero emission capability” would be sold from 2030. However, despite assurances as recently as 25 July that the 2030 date was “immovable”, the PM announced in September that the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles would continue beyond the end of 2029 through to the end of 2034. The other policy measure - requiring makers to hit steadily increasing sales targets of electric vehicles, reaching 80% by 2030 - remains in place.

The PM’s sudden and unexpected reversal of Government policy - by continuing the sale of petrol, diesel and all hybrid vehicles between 2030 and 2034 - is expected to:

● Cost consumers an additional £6.5-10bn in refuelling inefficient petrol and diesel cars at volatile prices.

● Result in 400,000 more cars using petrol and diesel on the road, when the UK should be at net zero.

● Release more than 35 million tonnes of additional planet-warming greenhouse gases between 2030 and 2050, which would need to be captured through massive expansion of uncertain carbon removal technologies - or addressed by difficult additional savings elsewhere, such as reductions in aviation, or payments to scrap the very polluting cars which Government policy will be putting back onto the road.