What is the petrol and diesel ban all about?
As we stand, by 2040 all cars and vans must be what is labelled “effectively zero emissions” by the government.
This is part of government plans to tackle air pollution, fossil fuel use and global warming.
With a parliamentary committee report this week describing the plans as both vague and unambitious, the government is under pressure to bring the date forward to 2032. But according to car manufacturers this is simply not going to work. It will result in Europe pushing for a huge uptake in electric and hybrid vehicles, with the rest of the world lagging behind by several decades, if indeed Europe can achieve the target.
So why the ban anyway?
Air quality in our main cities is the main reason with a rising risk to health. Changes to modern cars, it is believed, have resulted in pollution falling at the same time as nitrogen oxides rising. These damaging gases are mostly produced by diesel cars and vans.
As a result, petrol/electric vehicles will have full exemption from the ban.
The Problem
Right now, less than 1% of new sales are electric and hybrid and as we stand and the calculation by a driver is always a monetary one. So, if its more expensive, can the driver ever get the money back in fuel and tax savings?
With the recent government reduction of the PHEV and Full Electric grants the calculation has once again swayed to petrol and diesel cars and vans. 2032 is way too soon.
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