UK to ban new gasoline, diesel car sales in 2030

The UK government will outlaw the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars and vans in 2030, 10 years earlier than it previously planned.

The move, part of a broader environmentally-themed policy package, comes as the country edges towards a legally-binding target of net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. Transport contributed to 28pc of UK domestic emissions in 2018, according to a government report from earlier this year.

The sale of new hybrid cars and vans will be permitted until 2035, the government said, and it will begin consultations on the phase out of new diesel heavy-goods vehicles.

The government's move was welcomed by environmental pressure group Greenpeace, which called it a "big step forward."

New car registrations in the UK have been subdued this year by the effects of Covid-19 on consumer confidence. Latest data from the country's industry body SMMT show sales to private buyers down by 27pc year on year in the first 10 months of 2020, at around 1.39mn. The year on year fall is deeper, at 31pc, when fleet and business sales are included.

But while sales of gasoline and diesel cars fell by 39pc and 55pc respectively over the 10-month period, sales of new electric and hybrid vehicles were all sharply higher and their overall market share rose to 27pc from less than 10pc in the first 10 months of 2019.

The SMMT called the government's new deadline "an immense challenge".

"Success will depend on reassuring consumers that they can afford these new technologies, that they will deliver their mobility needs and, critically, that they can recharge as easily as they refuel," it said.

In order to ease the transition the state will provide £582mn ($770mn) in grants for people and companies buying zero- or low-emission vehicles, and has earmarked £1.3bn for installation of charging points. The government will also provide nearly £500mn for the development and production of electric-vehicle batteries.

The pandemic has also affected UK demand for gasoline and diesel this year because of restrictions on movement. The country has six refineries with a combined crude throughput capacity of 1.2mn b/d.

The government also today laid out plans for investment in hydrogen, carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS), nuclear energy and wind power.

By Ben Winkley