December 2023
Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about your concerns regarding the date of the petrol and diesel ban.
It is important that we as a country take action to tackle climate change and to help mitigate its effects, the UK aims to eliminate its contribution to climate change and has a statutory commitment to achieve net zero by 2050.
After consideration, the Government decided that the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will end in 2035. It is important such a transition is fair and pragmatic, the 2035 date will allow families to wait and take advantage of falling prices over the coming decade as the cost of electric vehicles decrease. Additionally, this move aligns the UK with countries such as Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Australia, and Canada, which will, in turn, help maintain the continuity of global supply chains in the automotive market.
I recognise your concern that moving the date to 2035 appears contradictory to combating climate change, however, this is not the case. The UK has already delivered significantly on our climate commitments and remains committed to the targets we agreed in Paris and Glasgow. Moving forward, the UK's 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (a country's self-defined national climate pledges under the Paris Agreement) delivers a 68 percent reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. This is more than the US at 40 per cent, Australia and 45 per cent and the EU at 55 per cent, and reduces per capita emissions to 3.8 tonnes, lower than the US, Australia, Canada and the EU. To ensure the UK meets our climate goals, the Government has put in place a mandate for 80 per cent of new vehicles to have zero emissions by 2030.
Also, I want to assure you that the Government is putting in place the infrastructure to facilitate the accelerated transition to electric vehicles – including public chargepoints, residential on-street chargepoints as well as rapid and smart chargepoints. Adjusting the ban of petrol and diesel cars will ensure that the UK has the necessary infrastructure for a decarbonised economy.
As of October 2023, government funding, alongside private sector investment, has supported the installation of more than 49,000 public electric vehicle charging devices, including over 8,000 rapid chargepoints - one of the largest networks in Europe. But there is much more to do. That is why I am glad that consumers will soon be able to compare costs across charging networks in a recognisable format similar to pence per litre for fuel and there will be new standards to ensure reliable charging for electric vehicle drivers.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Best wishes,
Angela Richardson MP
Member of Parliament for Guildford, Cranleigh and our villages