Don’t force rural drivers to use electric cars, MPS urge

RURAL drivers who want to keep their petrol and diesel cars should not be be put under pressure to switch to electric, MPS have said.

The transport select committee said that while the Government had identified electric vehicles (EVS) as a priority for reaching net zero, this was not right for everyone and could be counter-productive.

“There is a case for people across the country but particularly in rural and isolated communities, to continue to drive wholly diesel or petrolpowered cars, or hybrids (or EVS if they wish),” they said.

The MPS argued that over time, the emissions from these vehicles would be negligible when set against other sources of carbon. They said the cost of charging infrastructure was “unrealistic” and would require huge amounts of taxpayers’ money, which was unacceptable when compared to just keeping petrol or hybrid vehicles.

The Government wants four out of every five miles to be driven by an EV in 2035 to hit its 2050 net zero targets. It is outlawing all sales of petrol or diesel vehicles after 2030, and all hybrid vehicles by 2035.