The UK\u2019s ambitious transition to a zero-emission future faces new challenges as critics question the decision to allow the sale of some hybrid vehicles beyond the 2030 ban on petrol and diesel cars. Industry leaders fear this approach could dilute the country\u2019s leading stance on green transport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In order to improve its Zero Emission Vehicle<\/strong> (ZEV) mandate\u2014which describes the UK’s plan to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles<\/a>\u2014the Department for Transport<\/strong> (DfT) in the United Kingdom has started a consultation. While true hybrid vehicles\u2014those with both an electric motor and a gasoline engine\u2014may be allowed until 2035<\/strong>, conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles will no longer be sold after 2030<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a restricted electric-only range of frequently less than 50 miles, these hybrid cars, like the well-known Toyota Prius<\/strong>, run mostly on fossil fuels. Dan Caesar<\/strong>, CEO of Electric Vehicles UK (EVUK), and other industry experts contend that hybrids without plug-in capabilities compromise the goal of zero emissions<\/strong>. Caesar said that this choice might make the UK’s green initiatives \u201ca laughingstock\u201d and impede the country’s efforts to make electric cars<\/a> (EVs) widely available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other concerns cited by critics include the potential impact on the car industry and how it will adapt to the ZEV mandate<\/a><\/strong>, which requires automakers to produce an increasing percentage of zero-emission vehicles annually, from 22% in 2024 to 80% by 2030.<\/strong> Failure to meet these targets might result in significant fines for manufacturers, further straining the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Allowing hybrid <\/strong>sales past 2030 could hinder public trust in the UK\u2019s transition to cleaner transport. EVUK<\/strong> highlights that promoting plug-free hybrids may confuse consumers and discourage investment in fully electric vehicles. \u201cBacking electric vehicles would help revitalise the \u2018sluggish\u2019 UK economy,\u201d Caesar noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government\u2019s flexibility on hybrid technology may also challenge its credibility. Environmentalists and industry insiders advocate for stricter standards, such as mandating that vehicles eligible for sale post-2030<\/strong> achieve a minimum electric-only range of 50 miles (80.47 km)<\/strong>. Without these changes, the transition could falter as consumer preferences remain tied to conventional fuel-based options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, recent closures of manufacturing facilities, like the Luton van plant, exacerbate concerns about the economic implications<\/strong> of the policy. These closures not only jeopardise jobs but also cast doubt on the readiness of the UK\u2019s EV production capabilities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Experts warn the UK government\u2019s plan to allow hybrid car sales after 2030 could undermine its zero-emission goals. The move is seen as a potential blow to the nascent electric vehicle industry and consumer confidence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":100898,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-100893","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-energy","category-news","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33","no-featured-image-padding"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100893","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100893"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100893\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100911,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100893\/revisions\/100911"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100893"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100893"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100893"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}