Calls for Rishi Sunak to clarify uncertainty over 2030 petrol and diesel car ban

The EV charging network provider Instavolt is calling on the Government to keep it’s plans that will see sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans banned by 2030.

The statement comes after the Prime Minister refused to confirm whether the proposed ban would go ahead despite the cost-of-living crisis.

Adrian Keen, the CEO of Instavolt, explained why pushing the deadline back could have detrimental effects on the environment.

He said: “It’s completely unacceptable to call on an extension of the 2030 ICE ban. The timing of these calls is particularly eye raising given the wildfires in Rhodes and record-breaking temperatures this week.

“It shows a lack of ambition and selfishness from politicians who somehow seem to forget the climate crisis isn’t on the way, it’s already here.”

Under current plans, new petrol and diesel-powered cars will be banned in 2030, with plug-in-hybrids remaining on sale until 2035.

However, other motoring experts believe that changing these plans now would badly impact the UK automotive industry, particularly following the announcement that Tata are to build an EV battery factory in the country for electric Jaguar Land-Rover models.

Whilst there are currently just two fully electric models produced in Britain, the Nissan Leaf and the Mini Electric, many manufacturers plan to refit factories to produce more EVs.

Thom Groot, the CEO of the EV leasing firm The Electric Car Scheme, has highlighted the issues delaying or cancelling the ban may have on the automotive industry.

He explained: “The entire automotive industry is preparing for the 2030 ban and vagueness about whether it will actually happen could put billions of pounds of investment at risk.

“The first steppingstones to the 2030 ban are set to go into force in just six months’ time – the Zero Emissions Vehicle mandates which are aimed at easing manufacturers into the 100 percent ban on pure fossil fuel cars in 2030.”

Plans to ban the sale of new ICE powered cars and vans in the UK were first proposed in 2017, however were brought forward to 2035 and eventually 2030 in November 2020.

Various countries have proposed similar plans, with Norway aiming to end the sale of petrol and diesel passenger cars by 2025, encouraging motorists to make the switch with tax incentives.

If the Government maintains its 2030 ban, it will be in line with a number of countries, including Greece, The Netherlands and Sweden.