UK Government delays the 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars to 2035…Still full ‘steam’ ahead for UK businesses.
Ashley Tate, MD Allstar Chargepass UK
On Wednesday 20th September, the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, announced he has postponed the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars by five years to 2035 to ease the financial burden on citizens, as well as describing it as a “a new approach to achieving net zero”. While there might have been whispers to this decision taking place, and shock in some quarters, it shouldn’t (and we think will not) halt the great strides that all stakeholders have made in the journey to electrification.
While, the Prime Minister added that he was proud of the investment already created by manufacturers and he expected “that by 2030, the vast majority of cars sold will be electric... because the costs are reducing, the range is improving and the charging infrastructure is growing”, he said the delay will allow more time to prepare for the switch and align with countries like Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Australia, Canada, Sweden, and US states such as California, New York and Massachusetts.
Gauging both the reaction of industry, as well as that of our customers is tricky. Many fleets are in the early stages of their transition to alternative fuels (AF) or towards electric vehicles (EVs), so we appreciate it does give them more time to prepare their strategies. However, the shift to EVs is happening whether we like it or not – there will certainly be more updates ahead, not to mention the upcoming general election next year. But none of this will deter the industry. Especially, as we don’t anticipate changes to government grants or company car benefit in kind taxation, thus providing the encouragement for fleets to electrify.
Coupled with that car manufacturers are already committed to 2030 deadlines, most have changed their production lines and business models and have plans to stop manufacturing ICE vehicles. Not only that, they understand the role they play in meeting increased demand for EVs – the consumer shift is already happening so this will continue to influence things in more ways than one.
The other element is it will not dampen the great progress with infrastructure and solutions that are helping to accelerate UK’s fleet transition to EVs. This is where we come in, helping all businesses, no matter where they are on their journey towards EV, by making it simple to pay for fuel and EV charging on the road and at home. Such a solution brings a new era of ease for fleets as they navigate the journey towards the electric future.
While we await further details and the true impact of the Prime Minister’s statement, it will not impact the progress made by all stakeholders as we all work towards sustainable mobility.
To learn more, explore our electric vehicle solutions here.
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