The sale of diesel and petrol vehicles is due to end with a ban in 2030. But how will it work and what will it consist of? Here’s what you need to know…
Preparing For 2030
Current government plans are to ensure all new cars are “effectively zero-emission” by 2030. This will, in effect, mean that the sale of both new petrols and diesels will be banned after this date. Naturally, this has enormous ramifications for the automotive industry and fleets in particular. Hybrid vehicles will follow in 2035 and HGVs in 2040.
Environmentalists, and some MPs, are also calling for an earlier date of 2028. Conversely, some analysts claim that the 2030 ban is unworkable outright; drawing attention to the fact that only 1% of current models are zero-emission.
Why Is The Government Introducing A Fuel Ban?
Because it’s declared poor air quality to be “biggest environmental risk to public health in the UK”. The government has suggested that it’s linked to around 40,000 deaths annually. Nitrogen oxides are the most harmful pollutants and diesel vehicles produce the overwhelming majority of them at the roadside. The UN’s panel on climate change has also warned that “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society” are required to combat the process. In addition, the government lost court cases and was found to be failing to act to reduce nitrogen oxide levels via former strategies.
What Does It Mean For Fleets?
It means that they’re going to have to start thinking seriously about all-electric and hybrid vehicles. The fuel ban will fundamentally transform current arrangements and staples of the industry. Crucially, however, it’ll only affect cars and vans. The likes of HGVs (at least under current arrangements) will be unaffected until much later down the line. We think this may change, however, as manufacturers start to unveil functional and practical electric variants; like the Tesla Semi. So it won’t hurt to keep up with developments in this field. Businesses will need to think about access to charging infrastructure, educating drivers as to EV use and securing appropriate maintenance providers.
Fleets that embrace a philosophy of early-adoption may secure advantages over their competition; especially in terms of exploiting the plug-in grant; which may disappear before long. EVs don’t also just represent a technical change, they promise a cultural one. This will require adaptations from management all the way to drivers. Either way, fleets can no longer speculate if they’ll embrace EVs or not. They need to think about when they’ll embrace them.
Council Powers Could Lead To Drivers Facing An ‘Avalanche’ Of Fines – https://autoservefleet.co.uk/latest-news/council-powers-could-lead-to-drivers-facing-an-avalanche-of-fines/
Brits Bought More EVs In March Than In All Of 2019 – https://autoserve.co.uk/motoring-news/brits-bought-more-evs-in-march-than-in-all-of-2019/
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