Experts are warning that the Government could be making a “catastrophic misstep” if new hybrid cars without a plug are sold after the 2030 deadline to ban vehicles with an internal combustion engine.
On Christmas Eve, the Department for Transport launched a consultation to hear opinions from the automotive sector about the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate and the proposed ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles from the end of the decade.
One of the UK’s leading motoring groups, Electric Vehicles UK (EVUK), said allowing the sale of regular hybrid vehicles past 2030 would damage consumer confidence in zero emission cars.
The consultation outlines steps that would ban vehicles with internal combustion engines from 2030, but would allow the sale of full hybrids until 2035. After this, only zero emission vehicles will be sold.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing[email protected]
Experts have warned that the ZEV mandate could become a ‘laughing stock’ if hybrid sales are allowed after 2030
GETTY
Full hybrids have a petrol or diesel engine, which recharges the electric motor, rather than having it be charged with a plug. One of the most famous hybrid vehicles on the market is the Toyota Prius.
While these vehicles can be powered solely by electricity, it will only be for a few miles. It has been suggested that these low emission vehicles should be able to travel at least 50 miles to be considered eligible for sale after 2030.
Dan Caesar, chief executive of EVUK, said: “The inclusion of full hybrid technology would be a catastrophic misstep and make a laughingstock of the UK Government’s world-leading zero-emission vehicle policy.
“If lobbyists do persuade [the] Government to include full hybrids it would be a big backwards move. The ramifications for the nascent EV industry and for fragile consumer confidence could be profound,” he told PA.
Caesar said hybrid vehicles without a plug should be banned from 2030, noting that backing electric vehicles would help revitalise the “sluggish” UK economy.
The ZEV mandate states that brands must produce a certain percentage of zero emission vehicles every year, rising from 22 per cent at the end of 2024 to 28 per cent in 2025.
This will eventually rise to 80 per cent in 2030 before the Government rolls out the blanket ban on all new non-zero emission vehicle sales from 2035.
Failure to meet these targets could see brands fined £15,000 per polluting vehicle sold above the limit, although manufacturers are able to trade credits and use other flexibilities.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said the 2030 ban on polluting vehicles would be “fundamental” if the Government is to meet its net zero goal by 2050.
He added: “Success depends on consumers having the confidence to switch and that also means fast, affordable and accessible infrastructure investment right across the UK, at a pace and scale that matches the automotive industry.”
The ZEV mandate has come under increased pressure in recent months following sharp criticism from some brands and their decision to invest in the UK.
Vauxhall owner Stellantis was one of the most vocal, with former CEO Carlos Tavares saying the electric vehicle targets would make the brand reconsider its operations in the UK.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The Toyota Prius is one of the most popular hybrid vehicles around the world
TOYOTA
This was followed by the announcement that its Luton van plant would be closing, putting 1,100 jobs at risk, despite announcing previously that electric vehicle production would begin at the factory in 2025.
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: “We are consulting with industry on which cars, including which types of hybrid cars, can be sold alongside fully zero-emission vehicles from 2030.
“Industry will help us shape the transition to zero-emissions vehicles in a way that works for businesses, drivers, and the environment.”
