Petrol and diesel car ban and electric vehicle growth are ‘matters of urgency’

The Climate Change Committee has published a new report in which it states that the UK will fail to meet its net zero goals from 2030 onwards.

The latest Progress Report stated that a key opportunity to push a faster pace of progress has been missed and that the UK needed to catch up to have a chance at meeting net zero targets.

It highlights how sales of new electric cars continue to grow, ahead of CCC expectations and showing a positive trend required to achieve net zero. However, electric van sales are still lagging behind and remain significantly off track.

The report highlights how this is particularly concerning given that van traffic is increasing at a faster rate than the CCC had anticipated.

The Government will ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030, with a similar ban affecting new hybrid vehicles five years later.

It is estimated that by 2027, the entire Government car and van fleet will be completely zero emission, with all new cars and vans having significant zero emission capability between 2030 and 2035.

The Plug-in Van Grant is still available for people wanting to get access to electric vans, which could potentially see them receive a discount of up to 35 percent or £2,500 for small vans and £5,000 for large vans.

The report described the growing sales of new EVs as a “glimmer of net zero transition”, but laments other factors like scaling up of action.

Lord Deben, chairman of the CCC, said: “The legislation of the phase out of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 was a global leadership moment for the UK. 

“Now we must deliver against it; that means making sure our cars are electric, but also that the infrastructure to charge them is available up and down the country, and a ZEV mandate is introduced as a matter of urgency.

“I urge the Government to regroup on net zero and commit to bolder delivery. This is a period when pace must be prioritised over perfection.”

Concerns have been raised by industry experts about the number of electric car chargers around the UK and whether drivers have the confidence to switch, especially if they do not have access to a home charger.

At the end of May 2023, there were 43,626 electric vehicle charging points across the UK, across 25,413 charging locations. 

This represents a 38 percent increase in the total number of charging devices since May 2022, according to Zapmap data.

Greenhouse gas emissions in the UK have fallen 46 percent compared to 1990, with COP26 seeing a commitment made for 2030 to further reduce emissions by 68 percent.

Helen Clarkson, CEO at Climate Group, commented on the report to Parliament and the findings surrounding electric vans.

She said: “From electric van shortages and delays to the heat pump roll-out to inaction on onshore wind and the strategic void left around plans to decarbonise the steel industry, this latest assessment shows that the UK Government has taken its eye off the ball when it comes to delivering on net zero. 

“A lack of action is holding back business investment that could reduce emissions, boost economic growth, and lower fuel bills this winter. 

“People don’t want more warm words and empty promises, they want to see the policy and investment necessary to accelerate action.”