Britain To Ban The Sale Of New Petrol, Diesel And Plugin Hybrid Cars By 2035
The government of the UK has brought out plans proposing a ban of diesel and gas vehicles, which now has the deadline of 2035.
It was in 2017 when the government decided to put a ban on the purchase or sale of diesel and gas run vehicles because the idea was to cut carbon emissions and start attaining greater targets of air quality by 2040. Chris Grayling was the Transport secretary who proposed that the country aims for a zero percent emission in all vehicles by 2050.
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With the current strata of ecological crisis, it has been found that 2050 might not be a conducive target to curb global warming. Hence, the government has been pressurized to bring the target forward to 2035 by the Commission on Climate Change. Back in 2018, the BEIS committee too got enmeshed in this and proposed bringing the plan even closer- to 2032. They also incorporated hybrid and hybrid vehicles that were plug-ins.
With the ongoing pressure, the government finally ceded to the plans and mentioned that they would bring the target forward to 2035, or even closer if the environmental targets could be met. Also, they would take into the fold the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) committee proposal and induct hybrid vehicles into the ban.
In a contrary move, the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders claimed that this proposal was extremely unrealistic, and there was no way one could achieve that target in such a small period of time. Also, setting a target of 2040 to ban diesel and gas vehicles was quite problematic due to the time constraints placed.
The Alliance of British Drivers (ABD) also narrated a similar theory like the SMMT and claimed that such a ban was imposed keeping in mind a highly unrealistic target, based on technology that was not yet developed. This organization which controls the road users said that electric vehicles couldn’t be the perfect alternative since they too had emissions coming out of them.
The government brushed aside all these concerns and is still moving on its set target, claiming that they would be joining forces with every sector to ensure that the target is met.
The present Transport secretary Grant Shapps claims that the governmental plan of 1.5 billion pounds has made it easier to own an electric vehicle. So easy in fact, that they are confident in their plans to cut through other diesel and gas vehicles. But this move could potentially backfire as consumers might simply use their diesel and gas cars for a larger period of time.
Govt will bring forward ban on sale of new non zero emissions cars to 2035 from 2040 and ban will include plug-in hybrids. Stretching target & ban on hybrids could backfire as drivers keep petrol/diesel cars longer. Needs fiscal incentives ie scrapping VAT on EVs. @RHarrabin
— Edmund King OBE (@AAPresident) February 3, 2020
Mike Hawes, the chief of SMMT claimed that this plan wasn’t made with proper consultation, and could actually be catastrophic to Britain’s woefully inadequate skill set.
Even after considering the influx of a large number of plug-in models in the market, the expansion is still not complete. Consumers have to take into account the expenses incurred by this highly expensive technology which could be potentially damaging to the economy along with the technology and infrastructure of the country. The danger to the vehicle market is imminent, and no solution seems to come out of this cataclysm.
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His concluding statement was simply a plea to the government to find out a way which would enable them to match their target while ensuring that jobs aren’t lost, and people of all wage groups can afford the vehicles.
Simply banning diesel and gas vehicles wouldn’t be enough. There needs to be a different solution to this problem.
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