PETROL AND DIESEL BAN BROUGHT FORWARD TO 2035

The ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is to be brought forward five years and to include hybrid models, under new government plans.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the Government will consult on accelerating the ban from 2040 to 2035 in a bid to cut the UK’S emissions, with the possibility of it coming even earlier “if feasible”.

He also revealed that under the new proposals the ban will be extended to include petrolelectric and diesel-electric hybrids, which were previously excluded.

The ban is part of efforts to reduce the UK’S carbon emissions to virtually zero by 2050. Experts have warned that the current 2040 target date will make the switchover too late to hit this target, prompting the new consultation.

It will see the sale of all new internal combustion cars stopped by 2035, leaving zeroemission battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell cars as the only options. Previous plans had allowed for the continued sale of “electrified” combustion-engine cars such as self-charging and plugin hybrids, many of which can cover up to 30 miles in pureelectric mode but which still generate CO2 emissions.

The announcement has been caused concern in the car industry, with the Government accused of drastically changing the landscape, especially on the matter of hybrids.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders said: “It’s extremely concerning that government has seemingly moved the goalposts for consumers and industry on such a critical issue.

“Manufacturers are fully invested in a zero emissions future, with some 60 plug-in models now on the market and 34 more coming in 2020. How