Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) powered cars were once itself a revolution, and since then, we have come a long way. Now, in today’s world, we think more of the alternatives, as fossil fuel depletion and the environment are also something important that we need to consider. Earlier, the UK decided that it would ban petrol and diesel-powered cars by 2030, but wait, there’s a turn to this as Prime Minister Sunak has announced that they will be pushing the deadline to 2035.
Eager to learn why the deadline has been extended? Here are the points that could have led to such a huge decision.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- The UK has extended the deadline for banning ICE-powered cars.
- Prime Minister Sunak himself announced the same today.
- The date was earlier set for 2030 has now been pushed to 2035.
Extension on the 2030 Petrol-Diesel Engine Ban: Why is it so?
Initially, the ban on both petrol and diesel engine-powered cars was in effect from 2030, but back then, the UK decided to keep on allowing hybrid cars that promised zero emissions till 2035. Now as the deadline is extended, all of them including a proper ICE-powered car can be sold in the UK till 2035.
During the announcement, Prime Minister Sunak said that there is still a lot more work that has to be done. For instance, the EV infrastructure should be on par with what we currently have with gas-powered cars. Then, the higher upfront cost customers pay for EVs is also one crucial factor. One more thing that has to be kept in mind is that this extension now aligns with the European Union. As per PM Sunak, the UK is trying its best to become the world leader in electric vehicles. The country will continue to have a second-hand car market, where customers still get the option to buy ICE-powered cars for an unknown period.
As we know, the UK Government is chasing the net-zero carbon emission targets for 2050, this could be a crucial step for both the customers as well as the carmakers to get ahead with this transition.
In India, the Government is trying hard to push electrification to the next level. Recently, the announcement of a higher tax rate on diesel engine-powered cars could force manufacturers to rethink their strategies for the Indian market.