The British government under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has reiterated its commitment to a 2030 deadline for sales of new diesel and petrol cars, The Times reports. This decision is in response to ongoing calls from automakers for clearer guidance on the transition to electric vehicles (EVs).
Although some members of the Conservative Party have put pressure on Sunak to relax carbon neutrality plans, the government’s commitment to meet the 2030 deadline shows it wants to be “proportionate and pragmatic” about any changes. This firm stance may not be welcomed by those who favor a more relaxed approach.
The House of Lords inquiry into electric vehicle charging infrastructure continued this week, with experts from National Grid and Zapmap under scrutiny. The government aims to have 300,000 public charging points in the country by 2030, but there are currently just over 44,000. This highlights the need for greater investment and improvements in charging infrastructure to support the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.
In summary, the UK government’s commitment to set a 2030 deadline for sales of new diesel and petrol vehicles demonstrates its determination to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. This decision provides much-needed clarity to car manufacturers and creates a sense of certainty about the future of electric vehicle production in the UK.