April 03, 2023
From March 30 to May 24, the United Kingdom has opened a public consultation process to develop a regulatory framework that puts an end to the sale of cars and vans with combustion engines from 2030 and so that from the year 2035 these are completely zero emissions. According to Europa Press, the Executive of the United Kingdom considers that the transition to the electric vehicle cannot only “through the market” –as the official document presenting the consultation literally states– and also points out that in order to achieve its objective of being a neutral economy in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the contribution of “all sectors” is necessary.
The organization Transport & Environment (T&E) has positively assessed the current proposal of the Government of the United Kingdom and declares that it is a “important step” for the gradual elimination of diesel and gasoline vehicles in the country. The organization celebrates “this regulation and applauds the ambition the Government has shown. It will provide security for the UK car industry and consumers and reduce their dependence on foreign oil”. Richard Hebditch, director of T&E, has indicated that the regulatory proposal “set a clear path” for vehicle sales to be completely zero emissions by 2035 in the country.
The proposed regulation establishes an annual sales target for electric vehicles for manufacturers between 2024 and 2030, which, in his opinion, “paves the way for all new car and van sales to be zero emissions by 2035”. To this he adds that in 2024 these objectives will be 22% for passenger cars and 10% for vans. These targets will be increased to 80% and 70% by 2030, respectively.
The organization of automobile manufacturers in the United Kingdom, SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders), – which has “welcomed” the consultation raised by the Executive and has requested that the final standard “allow manufacturers to make the transition from sustainable and competitive way”–, calls for the charging network for zero-emission vehicles to also be promoted.
Mike Hawes, CEO of SMMT, states that “late publication and a lack of regulatory certainty make product planning nearly impossible, and the continued lack of clarity about which technologies will be allowed beyond 2030 undermines attempts to secure investment”.
Likewise, the organization has considered that the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in the country is “insufficient” and has regretted that its expansion is not being promoted from the public sector. And he adds that “If the UK is to lead the global race towards zero-emission mobility, it must go further and faster to unlock investment in infrastructure, incentivize the purchase of electric vehicles and help ensure that more of these vehicles are developed and build in here”.