Early move to electric cars ‘to halve oil imports’

THE UK could halve its reliance on oil imports by 2035 by bringing forward the Government’s ban on combustion engine vehicles by 10 years, according to an alliance of green groups.

A new report estimates that the UK could cut its demand for oil by more than 50pc by setting a target of making all new vehicles zero emissions by 2030, rather than its recent 2040 pledge. The report from the Green Alliance, alongside other green and faith groups, said the Government’s plan to stop the sale of new diesel and petrol cars by 2040 was a move in the right direction, but not enough to prevent the UK from falling behind others.

Other nations are much further ahead in their development of electric car industries, with 29pc of new cars sold in Norway this year being electric compared to only 1.4pc in Britain. Norway also has nearly 10 times more charging points per head of the population than the UK and plans for all its new vehicles to be ultra-low emission by 2025. Under the Government’s cur- rent plans, analysts at Wood Mackenzie estimate that the dramatic slump in oil demand from cars will be partially offset by rising demand from commercial vehicles and the aviation sector, meaning the demand reduction may only be 20pc.

The Petroleum Industry Association, which represents the interests of Britain’s six remaining refineries, declined to comment on the Green Alliance report but insisted that oil will remain a major part of the UK economy.