EV Industry Group Calls For Ban Of Non-Plug-In Hybrids In The UK By 2030

A prominent electric vehicle industry group in the UK is pushing for the government to ban traditional hybrid cars alongside more conventional petrol and diesel vehicles which are already facing the chopping block in 2030. The group, Electric Vehicles UK (EVUK), believes allowing non-plug-in hybrids to be sold after this date would be a “catastrophic misstep.”

The UK’s Department of Transport has pushed forward its ICE ban from 2035 to 2030. From 2035, all non-zero-emission new cars will be prohibited, but there’s still a debate about what vehicles will be available for consumers to buy between 2030 and the end of 2034.

Read: UK Goverment Ready To Soften Unrealistic EV Mandate

In an impassioned plea with the British media, the EVUK’s chief executive, Dan Caesar, said he is not opposed to PHEVs being available between these dates but thinks traditional hybrids and mild-hybrids should be banned alongside conventional ICEs.

A “Catastrophic Misstep”?

“The inclusion of full hybrid technology would be a catastrophic misstep and make a laughing stock of the UK Government’s world-leading zero-emission vehicle policy,” he told The Guardian. “If lobbyists do persuade government to include full hybrids it would be a big backwards move. The ramifications for the nascent EV industry and for fragile consumer confidence could be profound. Holding the line and creating certainty around EVs has the potential to be a key measure towards revitalizing a sluggish economy.”

Andy Palmer, the former boss of Aston Martin and Nissan, is an advisor to the industry group and said that while hybrids are “a better solution” than mild hybrids, they still use “a technology that belongs to the late 1990s.” He also said that mandating the sale of only vehicles with a plug – like PHEVs and EVs – will help to stimulate the expansion of the country’s charging network.

The Government Is Still Undecided

The Department of Transport says it’s continuing to hold consultations with the industry about which kind of vehicle powertrains should be allowed after 2030. “We are consulting with industry on which cars, including which types of hybrid cars, can be sold alongside fully zero-emission vehicles from 2030,” it told The Telegraph.

“Drivers are already embracing electric vehicles faster than ever and 2024 was a record year for the UK new car market, with the strongest overall growth of any major European market. Industry will help us shape the transition to zero emissions vehicles in a way that works for businesses, drivers and the environment. Together we can capitalize on the clean energy transition to support thousands of jobs, make the UK a clean energy superpower and rebuild Britain.”