The UK has taken a step on the road to ending its contribution to climate change while boosting jobs in the process, as the Prime Minister announced the end of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the UK by 2030.

This will put the UK on course to be the fastest G7 country to decarbonise cars and vans.

• Step one will see the phase out date for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans brought forward to 2030.
• Step two will see all new cars and vans be fully zero emission at the tailpipe from 2035.

Between 2030 and 2035, new cars and vans can be sold if they have the capability to drive a significant distance with zero emissions (e.g. plug in hybrids or full hybrids), and this will be defined through consultation.

The move is underpinned by over £1.8bn to support greater uptake of zero emission vehicles for greener car journeys. New measures announced include more chargepoints to build on our world-class infrastructure network, alongside innovation for new clean technologies. This investment will improve air quality in our towns and cities and support economic growth right across the UK, putting us at the forefront of the zero emission vehicle revolution with vehicles built right here in the UK.

To meet future demand, the Government is providing grants for homeowners, businesses and local authorities to install chargepoints and is also supporting the deployment of rapid chargepoints.

The Government today has also pledged £582 million in grants for those buying zero or ultra-low emission vehicles to make them cheaper to buy and incentivise more people to make the transition.

Alongside the further funding, after laying legislation this week, green number plates are set to be introduced from December to increase awareness of cleaner vehicles on our roads and help local authorities bring in local incentives. For example, drivers could benefit from local initiatives such as cheaper parking and cost-free entry into zero-emission zones.

To ensure the phase out dates are met and to support interim carbon budgets, the Department for Transport will publish a Green Paper in the coming months on the post EU regulatory regime for CO2 emissions from new road vehicles. This will consider both overall fleet efficiency and how to best deliver the transition to 100% zero emission sales for cars and vans. A consultation on the phase out of new diesel HGVs to put the UK in the vanguard of zero emission freight will also be launched.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: 

“The UK is going further and faster than any other major economy to decarbonise transport, harnessing the power of clean green technology to end the UK’s contribution to climate change by 2050.

“We are also leading the charge when it comes to the transition to zero emission vehicles and today’s timely boost in funding builds on our world-leading £2.5bn package to encourage drivers to make the switch.”

The Government is also stepping up its commitment to help the sector transition towards zero emission vehicles by boosting the development of clean, green technologies for zero emission vehicles on UK soil – from battery packs to recycling infrastructure and super lightweight components.

As part of this, the government is committing £500 million of funding over the next four years through the Automotive Transformation Fund to put the UK at the forefront of the design and manufacturing of the next generation of zero emission vehicles. The investment will help build a rich, diverse and sustainable supply chain that will form a vital part of the future industry, ensure the enormous strength the UK has in innovation can progress, and help maintain our position in a globally competitive market.