2023-09-20 15:34:33
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom would postpone the electric car promises planned for 2030. Some industry players have called the measure “confusing”, which can also unsettle consumers. The British prime minister is expected to announce on Friday the postponement of several policies that he says will impose a direct cost on consumers. Among them are the planned phase-out of gas boilers and the introduction of energy efficiency targets for private rental apartments. The expected relaxation of green policies caused consternation. There was consternation from within the Tory party, leading figures in the Labor party, environmental groups and car manufacturers that the measure would be postponed. Auto industry players are not happy about the announcement Auto industry leaders considered Rishi Sunak’s plan “incredibly confusing” and “an extraordinary step back”. According to the plan, the government will withdraw from the zero-emission policy and postpone the ban on the sale of new gasoline and diesel vehicles. If Britain relaxes its ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030, it would undermine the steps US carmakers have taken to prepare for the rules, according to the chairman of Ford UK. “Our business needs three things from the UK government: ambition, commitment and consistency… Any easing of the 2030 deadline would undermine all three,” said Lisa Brankin, president of Ford UK. Ian Plummer, commercial director of the online vehicle market AutoTrader, described the five-year delay of the ban until 2035 as an “extreme step backwards”. The commercial director accused the Prime Minister of choosing the “easy solution and paying attention to the votes”. Instead, it could help consumers buy electric cars more affordably by changing the tax system. Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said it was “worrying” that the ban on the sale of new combustion engine vehicles had been delayed. Hawes added: “The government has supported the industry with investment in Tata’s battery factory in Somerset and BMW’s Cowley factory, so we question what the strategy is because we need to move road transport mobility away from fossil fuels and towards sustainable transport. We don’t really know what’s going to happen now.” The regulations cause problems not only for the British, but also in Europe. While manufacturers in the UK are preparing for 2030, the EU has set a ban on the purchase of internal combustion cars for 2035. The EU target was criticized by several industry players, including Renault’s CEO. According to Luca De Meo, the regulators have not adequately taken into account technological developments. He believes that for this reason the ban on the sale of internal combustion cars should be postponed until at least 2040. The head of Renault fears that the EU will soon face insurmountable difficulties if it does not change its vision. The British government stands by the decision for the time being Home Minister Suella Braverman criticized the “completely unrealistic and punitive” green goals set by previous governments. He also stressed that the UK must reduce emissions in a “mature and pragmatic way”. According to the current government, “strict” 2030 goals were announced by Boris Johnson three years ago. Although Sunak has repeatedly stated its commitment to reducing carbon emissions, the issuance of new North Sea oil and gas permits and moves to scale back green policies cast doubt on the true commitment. A government spokesman said: “The government remains fully committed to its zero-emissions commitments and the UK has reduced emissions faster than any other G7 country. Our approach will always be pragmatic and ensure that the costs are not passed on to hard-working families.” The measure may also confuse consumers As part of the quotas, car manufacturers have to sell more and more electric cars. By 2030, 80% of cars sold by the automotive industry in Britain are expected to be battery-powered vehicles. Although electric car sales have been steadily increasing in recent years, it is possible that the introduction of the measure will slow down the trend. Mike Hawes said the following in this regard: “We are trying to understand what will happen after this kind of statement and the said policy directive. As well as understanding the message you are sending to consumers with these measures, which can be incredibly confusing.” “This turn will cause a huge headache for manufacturers who are crying out for clarity and consistency. This is unlikely to encourage the vast majority of non-electric car buyers to make the switch,” said Ian Plummer. Luke Murphy, deputy director of the IPPR, said the move would “harm consumers who would benefit from a faster transition to net zero. These new proposals would make us all even more dependent on volatile, expensive, imported fossil fuels.” He called the pursuit of zero emissions “the economic opportunity of the 21st century”, adding that investors need “stability and security”.
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