Ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) next year, it has been announced that new petrol and diesel cars will not be sold to consumers in the UK from 2030.
The ban was originally planned for 2040, but was then brought forward to 2035, it has now been revised again to come into effect in 2030 to help tackle climate change.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called this the “green industrial revolution”, which he believes this will create more jobs in alternative energy industries and help cut carbon emissions.
Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands are intending to bring in the ban by 2030, while Norway hope to have the ban in place by 2025.
The UK government will be allocating £4 billion to fund the petrol and diesel ban, with part of this financial pot being used to create more electric vehicle charging points.
Another £582 million in grants are also being made available to make electric vehicles cheaper and encourage motorists to convert.
Some companies are already running scrappage incentives for high-emitting vehicles, offering discounts off less polluting new vehicles.
The UK government has set ambitious targets to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050, of which transport, which includes the motor trade industry, accounts for roughly a third of our total emissions, so the sooner these are reduced the earlier we can reach the targets set.
This means in ten years from now, anyone looking to buy a new car from a motor trade dealer will not be able to purchase a ‘new’ petrol or diesel car, however, new hybrid cars may still be available until 2035.
You will still be able to buy second-hand vehicles after 2030, so this does not mean your next vehicle has to be an electric one, petrol and diesel cars will still be available to purchase privately or from second-hand motor trade dealers.
In case you are wondering, neither does this new scheme mean you will have to scrap your existing vehicle, but it may affect your car insurance policy and premiums, so when it comes in to effect in 2030 it will be important to talk to your insurance company or broker; especially if you have a motor trade insurance policy.
Motor Trade Insurance Quote?
Looking for motor trade insurance? you could save up to 67.5% with Unicom. Click here to get a quote that could save you £££’s
If you have just bought a new car there is also no cause for concern, according to the Society of Motoring Manufacturers and Traders, the average life span of a car is nearly 14 years.
But one thing is for sure, we will all need to start considering the fact that as the UK becomes greener it will have a big impact on our transport running costs.
To avoid serious effects of climate change, emissions will not only have to drop by half, but by 2050 reach zero, otherwise known as net zero.
The government signed a legally binding contract to reach this target, and it might help us reach our net zero goal sooner by bringing the petrol and diesel ban forward to 2030.