2030 ban a great ‘opportunity’

The government’s decision to bring forward its ban on the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles has been described as an opportunity to play a leading role in the green revolution.

The ban was originally going to be introduced in 2040, but has been brought forward to 2035, 2032, and now 2030.

David Krajicek, CEO, JATO Dynamics, said: “For many years, the automotive industry has been preparing to transition into a new era – one focussed on collaboration and green recovery. We have seen many governments in Europe legislate against diesel cars in recent times and given that traditional petrol cars emit higher levels of CO2 on average, this week’s move by the UK government should come as little surprise.

“Over the last decade, the focus for all automotive players has been clear: actively work to offset the potential negative economic consequences of banning vehicles with internal combustion engines. In fact, with an increasing adoption of alternative fuelled vehicles seen across Europe, manufacturers are now starting to see the benefits arising from their electrification strategies.

“Nevertheless, this is an ambitious timeline and with many manufacturers not yet seeing a return on their investment, the new policies will require both active government support and continued commitment from said manufacturers.

Electric vehicles, to be successful at scale, demand new infrastructure, technologies and support services. And, by betting on the success of green vehicles, the UK government is deepening its commitment to the development of green jobs and the green economy.

“Already facing pressure from Brexit and the resulting slowdown in manufacturing, this move may prove to be the UK’s best opportunity to take their place in the global market as leaders of the green car market, only time will tell.”