DfT Consultation – ending the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars and vans

Christian Brand, Jillian Anable and James Dixon

A joint UKERC/CREDS consultation response comments on the proposed Department for Transport policy change which brings forward the end of the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars and vans from 2040 to 2035, or earlier.

Summary of our response

We support this change, bringing the phase-out date forward and urge it to be earlier than 2035, and to also include phasing out of any non-zero tailpipe vehicles using a market transformation approach. We also strongly believe that the Government has a crucial role to play in leading the way to decarbonize transport.

Our research has shown that deeper and earlier reductions in carbon emissions and local air pollution would be achieved by a more ambitious change to a 2030 ‘phase out’ that includes all fossil fuel vehicles. This would include all vehicles with an internal combustion engine, whether ‘self-charging’ or not.

However, only the earlier phase outs combined with lower demand for mobility and a clear and phased market transformation approach aimed at phasing out the highest-emitting vehicles first would make significant contributions to an emissions pathway that is both Paris compliant and meets legislated carbon budgets and urban air quality limits.

Banner photo credit: Alireza Attari on Unsplash