The initial plan, as far as the UK was concerned, was to ban the sale of all internal combustion engine vehicles (including hybrids and even plug-in hybrids) by the year 2040.
A faster transition to 2035 then became feasible, but not without some backlash from within the industry. It was just two months ago that SMMT CEO Mike Hawes spoke about how concerned the industry was whether or not they could meet a 2035 deadline.
Well, if you thought that was tough, wait until you start getting ready for 2030, which is how soon the UK is now reportedly looking to enforce its internal combustion ban, as reported by Autocar.
Read Also: UK Study Shows EVs Are Cheaper To Own Over Their Lifetime Than ICE Cars
This report comes just as UK sales of electric and hybrid cars overtook those of diesel-powered vehicles between April and June of this year, with 33,000 new EVs and hybrids registered, compared to 29,900 diesel cars – this serves as an indicator that the Britain’s new car buyers are ready to leave internal combustion engines behind.
“2030 is an ambitious but achievable date by which to phase out the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles, one that would give a new lease of life to the UK car industry whilst combating climate breakdown and cleaning up the air that dangerously pollutes so many of our towns and cities,” said Labour minister Matthew Pennycook.
“But as well as accelerating the phase-out, the government must also set out a credible plan to get there – one that backs the low-carbon jobs and industries of the future and ensures that workers and communities are properly supported in the transition to a fairer and cleaner economy.”
Our take
Even if the UK does enforce an internal combustion engine ban this decade, that doesn’t mean your gasoline or diesel-powered vehicle will suddenly be worthless. The ban is only applicable to brand new cars, so if you own a used model, you’ll still be able to use it to get around, although we imagine the government will tax you for it pretty heftily.
