Everything you need to know about the 2030 diesel and petrol car ban in the UK

Published 20 June 2024

As the world turns its attention towards more sustainable solutions in all aspects of life, a transformative step in this journey is the plan to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2030. With question marks surrounding the ban, let's take a look at what it could mean for you...

This move aims to accelerate (excuse the pun) the transition to cleaner, more eco-friendly transport options and to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the rationale behind this decision and the potential benefits it holds for the future of our planet…

The  UK government has set a target of reducing emissions by 78% by 2035 and the move towards cleaner transport is a way to help reach that goal …

No. You’ll still be able to drive your petrol or diesel car, but there will be a ban on the production and sale of them, so naturally, more drivers will be making the switch to an electric car. There’s no one size fits all though, there are plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs). PHEVs will remain on sale in the UK until 2035 when these too will be phased out.

Yes. Although, there will more ultra-low emissions (ULEZ) zones across the UK, meaning you’ll be charged to drive a fuel car on the roads. These zones already exist in major built up areas such as London and Birmingham. 

There aren’t any plans at the moment for the distribution of petrol and diesel to be banned in the UK, but as demand for fossil fuel drops, and more EV charging areas are built, petrol and diesel might become more expensive and harder to find in the UK. 

 You’ll still be able to buy a second-hand ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicle after the 2030 ban.

Yes. Hybrids will still be available to buy for a little while longer than petrol and diesel cars, but the government is looking to phase these out from 2035. After this, only new electric cars will be available to buy brand-new.
The cost of buying an electric car can vary depending on the make, model, age and type of purchase (e.g. bought, financed, second-hand or leased), but as the market expands, and technology advances, there will be many more options in the electric car market.
Well, transportation - particularly the usage of fossil fuel-powered vehicles - has been a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution for years.

In a nutshell, petrol and diesel cars release substantial amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), along with other harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). These emissions add to climate change.

So, by banning the sale of petrol and diesel cars in 2030, the government is taking a proactive step to address these environmental concerns and making strides towards meeting global climate targets and creating cleaner air for us all to breathe.
Vehicle manufacturers will be compelled to invest heavily in research and development to improve battery technology, charging infrastructure, and energy efficiency. This should result in more advanced and affordable electric vehicles (EVs) with longer ranges, shorter charging times, and better overall performance.

So, as demand for electric cars manufacturing costs will likely reduce - making EVs more accessible to the general public.
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