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18 Aug 2022

New hybrid vehicles to be banned from 2035

Oliver
By Oliver
  • over 2 years ago
  • Read time: 3 minutes
As part of the UK Government's net zero target by 2050, new hybrid vehicles are to be banned by 2035, further reducing carbon emissions.

New hybrid vehicles to be banned

If you have been looking forward to buying that roaring old-school car, then you still have about 8 years to do so. This is because the government is pulling forward the ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol-fuelled vehicles to 2030. The ban was initially due to come into effect in 2040 and had already been moved to 2035. The current system has stated that the move was essential for the UK to realise its goal of releasing nearly zero carbon by 2050. Nonetheless, whilst the ban has been brought forward again, hybrid vehicles that function for ‘substantial’ distances on electric power will receive a stay of execution until 2035. Whatever comprises ‘substantial’ has not been defined. The ban will also extend to vans, even though the Government has not issued details regarding the kinds of hybrid vans, which will be exempted from the 2030 ban. Is this a relief to the general public? Let’s find out

Bringing the date forward will cause a problem for carmakers as they are expected to supply sufficient electric vehicles (EVs) to fulfil the surging demand. Pressure is also mounting on infrastructure providers to fix enough charging points when EV car sales go up in a decade.

The government has funded one centre involved with battery development – the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre. In addition, the government has pledged to inject virtually £500 million for mass production of fully electric vehicles batteries.

In the recent announcement, the Government promised £1.3 billion to catalyse charging points rollout for EVs in streets, homes and highways in all parts of the United Kingdom.

The move to pull forward the ban will place the United Kingdom ahead of France that seeks to ban petrol and diesel-fuelled vehicles from 2040, and on par with Ireland and Germany. Let’s dig deeper into the topic

Hybrid car logo

What does this mean for me?

In the short haul, you will not observe a lot of changes. Nonetheless, as the country will inch closer to the ban, expect discounts on remaining diesel and petrol-fuelled vehicles and more enticements tailor-made to get you interested in EVs instead.

Expect to see more EVs go on sale to ensure there are numerous choices and people grow accustomed to the concept of going electric. We also anticipate a continuing investment in the United Kingdom’s charging framework.

Public EV charging spaces

How will the ban affect used vehicles?

The banning of diesel and petrol-fuelled vehicles by 2030 and hybrids by 2035 will potentially not influence the short-haul values. Nonetheless, the ban is a fraction of a more effective air quality strategy from the government that also expresses support for imposing a fee on a diesel-fuelled vehicle.

Who doesn’t know that this may impact the values of diesel-fuelled vehicles as more cities and towns impose such fees? The value of diesel vehicles is slipping relative to their petrol counterparts. This trend will possibly continue as more realise that selecting a diesel car can considerably increase charges if they utilise them for commuting.

Purchasing a petrol-fuelled vehicle instead might look like a reasonable idea. Unluckily, petrol-powered vehicles are massively scarcer in some categories like the large sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Hence, we recommend you sit down and do the math, taking note of your mileage, fuel cost, potential charges, and the threat of diesel models declining more regarding value. For a driver covering huge distances, a diesel-powered vehicle is sensible. But if you do not cover long distances to validate the additional expense brought about by the new fee, then an EV is a safer bet.

What does the ban mean, and how do we get there?

Authoritative organisations and environmentalists are welcoming the move to ban petrol and diesel-powered vehicles. However, several vehicle makers and motoring groups have termed the move as ‘a date without policy’.

So, the government has imposed a date, but what do we require to realise it? The private sector has done wonders in making EV chargers accessible to the public in highly populated cities and towns. As a matter of fact, by the end of 2020, there were more public-access charging spots than petrol stations.

The motoring world is also facing the challenge head-on by setting up an open-access network, ensuring drivers have a fantastic experience. Laws are also being pushed to protect this interoperability between charging networks.

Yet, there is an issue, which remains unsolved. The majority of rural areas have under-developed charging frameworks. Hence, the government is supposed to swing into action and deliver to its target. Offering direct support to the uninhabited regions, the Current Administration can make sure the implementation of charging points is strategically managed and geared at aiding mass EV uptake within the United Kingdom.

Conclusion

The UK’s Government claims that 40,000 premature deaths are linked to pollution; hence, there is an urgent need to reducing carbon releases to nil. Kudos to the government for putting the health of its citizens first. As a measure of cleaning the UK’s air, the Government has come up with a series of steps, including banning diesel and petrol-powered vehicles by 2030. Though the measure is good, several things need to be done to make the goal achievable, including increasing charging points and expanding EV manufacturing plants to handle the demand.

Oliver

Written by Oliver

Oliver is a Content Specialist for 50five UK