The UK to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars in 2040

In 23 years time it has been announced the sale of all petrol and diesel vehicles will be no more.

Michael Gove has set out this date for his air strategy which will also include the recommendation for a “value for money” diesel scrappage scheme when it goes through the High Court in a few days’ time.

However several motoring organisations think the idea of banning the production of petrol and diesel vehicles from 2040 is unrealistic, with no robust plans yet announced as to what this looks like in reality.

As part of an overall £3 billion package ring-fenced for air quality improvements, the Government is also expected to announce £255 million worth of funding to accelerate local measures for dealing with the emissions caused by diesel cars.

The measures will all be included in the clean air strategy, published just days before the deadline set by the High Court.

The expected move to ban petrol and diesel vans and cars follows a similar strategy in france, amid increasing signs that the shift to electric vehicles is accelerating even further that it currently is.

It is widely believed that with other countries that are signed up to the Paris agreement and their own similar pledges that it was only a matter of time before the UK set out its stall in regard to the demise of the internal combustion engine.

Mr Gove used his radio appearance on Wednesday morning to get across the point that “we can’t carry on with diesel and petrol cars” – not only from a health perspective, but also because of the effects emissions have on climate change and an already in-danger planet.

On scrappage schemes, Mr Gove says previous incarnations have represented “poor value for money” and noted that people are already moving away from diesel cars independently.

However, if local authority areas can come up with better value scrappage schemes that are “appropriately targeted”, the Cabinet minister has “no ideological or theological objection to them”.

Certainly interesting times ahead, and one point which has been reported is that hybrid vehicles will still (at this stage) be available from 2040, so whether this is a total departure for petrol engines remains to be seen. How will the behemoth car manufacturers respond to this with their new electric car ranges?

We believe at U Drive Cover that innovation is a good thing and if done right this could be the step change needed for the next generation of motoring.