UK announces ban on ICE vehicle sales by 2030

THE Boris Johnson-led UK government has made a bombshell announcement, declaring a ban on the sale of new cars and vans powered exclusively by petrol or diesel engines by 2030.

 

Announced as part of a 10-point plan to transform the UK’s industrial landscape to a more environmentally friendly one, the new plan brings forward the UK’s plans to ban internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicles from 2040 to 2030.

 

Prime minister Johnson announced that the government will pour over £2.8 billion ($A5.09b) towards investing in EVs, including expanding the network of charging stations and creating long-lasting EV batteries in UK gigafactories.

 

According to the announcement, certain hybrid vehicles that “can drive a significant distance when no carbon is coming out of the tailpipe” will be able to be sold until 2035.

 

This suggests that plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles will be allowed, with many current PHEVs able to travel around 50km on battery power alone.

 

It will mean the end of mild-hybrid and series-hybrid vehicles, such as the self-charging hybrid system found on popular Toyota vehicles like the RAV4 and Corolla.

 

Of the £2.8b investment, around £1.3b ($A2.4b) will go towards further establishing an EV charging network, while £582 million ($A1.1b) will be used to incentivise the purchase of zero or ultra-low-emission vehicles.

 

£500m ($A908m) will go towards creating a mass battery-producing industry in the UK, as part of a wider manufacturing investment that will see factories built in the Midlands and North East regions.

 

The move may force some car-makers to scramble and push forward their plans for electrification, while others are already on track meet the goals set by the government.

 

One such brand primed to meet the challenge head-on is Bentley, which announced earlier in the month it would electrify its entire model portfolio by 2026, and will be purely EV by 2030.

 

The development will likely see the reduction of some brand’s model lines, such as Ferrari, with CEO Louis Camilleri stating this month that he didn’t see Ferrari ever going 100 per cent EV, and let alone 50 per cent EV in his lifetime.

 

It will also likely make life harder for niche local manufacturers such as Morgan or Ineos Automotive, who currently produce ICE vehicles only and may not have the ability to develop EV tech on their own.

 

The government will also strive to invest in zero-emission public transport while making cycling and walking more attractive travel options.

 

As for the broader 10-step green industry plan, the UK government said it will focus on powering the country through a combination of wind, hydrogen and nuclear energy; invest in greener aircraft and ship tech; make homes and public buildings greener; develop a world-leading carbon-capture scheme; protecting and restoring the natural environment; and developing technologies to make London the global centre for green finance.