Petrol automotive gross sales will probably be phased out within the UK as Government provides replace on plan

Plans to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the UK by 2030 are moving forward.

The Government has launched a consultation on the ban on new cars that run purely on petrol or diesel in a bid to “restore clarity” for manufacturers and the charging industry.

The Tories delayed the 2030 deadline to 2035 last year when Rishi Sunak ditched a string of green policies in an attempt to boost his dire polling ratings. The move was met with dismay by climate scientists and environmental experts, as well as a number of top Tories.

Labour promised to restore the earlier date in its election manifesto, but admitted in September that some hybrid cars could be sold until 2035. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is seeking views from industry on the plans, which the Department for Transport said the consultation was “focused on how, not if, we reach the 2030 target”.

But the probe will give manufacturers the chance to share views on “which hybrid cars can be sold alongside zero-emission models between 2030 and 2035”.

More than two-thirds of car manufacturers in the UK, including Nissan and Stellantis, have already committed to transitioning fully to electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030. But car industry leaders have warned that drivers are not switching to EVs quickly enough.

Last month, Ford UK urged the Government to introduce incentives to boost demand, saying the order to produce and sell more EVs “just doesn’t work” if drivers aren’t buying them. Stellantis, the owner of Vauxhall, partly blamed EV sales rules for the decision to close its factory in van-making factory Luton, putting 1,100 jobs at risk.

The consultation proposes updates to the Zero Emission Vehicle (Zev) Mandate, which sets out the percentage of new EVs that manufacturers will be required to sell each year up to 2030. In 2024, EVs must make up 22% of car sales, and 10% of van sales – and the target is set to rise to 28% for cars and 16% for vans in 2025. Firms failing to meet these targets will be slapped with a £15,000 fine per sale.

The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) think tank said the UK will meet its electric vehicle targets because the Zev mandate takes into account credits earned from selling lower-emission hybrid petrol and diesel vehicles, as well as sales of fully electric vehicles.

Ms Alexander said: “Employing 152,000 people and adding £19 billion to our economy, the UK’s automotive industry is a huge asset to our nation – and the transition to electric is an unprecedented opportunity to attract investment, harness British innovation, and deliver growth for generations to come.

“Yet over the last few years, our automotive industry has been stifled by a lack of certainty and direction. This Government will change that.

“Drivers are already embracing EVs faster than ever, with one in four new cars sold in November electric. Today’s measures will help us capitalise on the clean energy transition to support thousands of jobs, make the UK a clean energy superpower, and rebuild Britain.”

It comes as part of a push to widen access to EV chargers, with another 100,000 planned by local authorities across England. Ministers have pledge to shake-up planning rules to make it easier to install charging points.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said accelerating the transition to electric vehicles will “drive forward our clean energy superpower mission and brings huge economic opportunities”. “It will help drivers access cars that are cheaper to run, cut air pollution in our cities and towns, back British manufacturers and provide highly skilled jobs in emerging industries,” he said.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said the industry was facing significant global challenges as it tries to “decarbonise ahead of natural market demand”. He said: “Aside from the billions invested in new technologies and products, it has cost manufacturers in excess of £4 billion in discounting in the UK this year alone.

“This is unsustainable and, with the 2025 market looking under even greater pressure, it is imperative we get an urgent resolution, with a clear intent to adapt the regulation to support delivery, backed by bold incentives to stimulate demand.”

AA president Edmund King said: “The AA supported the original zero emission new cars sales deadline of 2030 as ‘challenging but ambitious’ and the results of this consultation should define the firm route to zero emissions. Understandably drivers have been hesitant about the transition but more clarity on hybrids, vans and planning support for accelerated charging infrastructure should give them more certainty.”