Ministers have been advised that Britain must move quickly to restrict the sale of new hybrid vehicles without plugs starting in 2030 or risk making “a catastrophic misstep” on the path to net zero.
According to the representative group Electric Vehicles UK (EVUK), cars like the Toyota Prius that use an internal combustion engine to charge their batteries must be removed from the list of vehicles sold in the UK starting in 2030 to prevent a “profound” decline in public trust in the government’s commitment to electric motoring.
Beginning on January 1, 2030, the Department for Transport (DfT) will prohibit the sale of new automobiles with internal combustion engines alone.
Between that date and the end of 2034, when all new automobiles that don’t have zero emissions will be outlawed, it is consulting on what alternative kinds of vehicles, such fully hybrids, can be sold.
There is a lot of pressure on ministers to postpone the date of the complete ban on non-electric vehicles. Complete hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius, combine a battery-operated electric motor with a gasoline or diesel engine.
The engine recharges the battery instead of an external socket, and they can typically only be driven at modest speeds and for a few kilometers on electricity alone. Dan Caesar, the CEO of EVUK, stated that while he wasn’t against the sale of new plug-in hybrids between 2030 and 2035—some of which can travel more than 50 miles without emitting any emissions—he did advocate for the prohibition of vehicles without a plug.
“The inclusion of full hybrid technology would be a catastrophic misstep and make a laughingstock of the UK government’s world-leading zero-emission vehicle policy,” To the PA news agency, he said.
“The government would be making a significant step backward if lobbyists were to convince them to include full hybrids.”There may be severe consequences for the fledgling EV sector and for the already brittle consumer trust.
“Keeping the line and establishing clarity around EVs could be a crucial step in reviving a flagging economy.”
Full hybrids are “a better solution” than mild hybrids, which cannot be powered solely by electricity, according to Dr. Andy Palmer, a former Aston Martin CEO and former Nissan operations head. However, he claimed that full hybrids employ “a technology that belongs to the late 1990s.”
Manufacturers are required to sell a minimum percentage of pure electric vehicles annually under the zero-emission vehicles (Zev) regulation, which was implemented from the beginning of 2024. The cutoff is expected to increase from 22% in 2024 to 28% in 2025 and then to 80% in 2030.
After some segments of the car industry felt the mandate was putting employment at risk, the government is considering more flexible timelines in its consultation, which ends on February 18.
Putting 1,100 jobs at danger, Vauxhall owner Stellantis announced in November that it was closing its Luton van facility. The company claimed that the decision was made in accordance with the “tough” Zev directive.
We are talking with industry on which automobiles, including hybrid vehicles, can be offered alongside completely zero-emission vehicles starting in 2030, a DfT official stated.
Electric vehicles are already being adopted by drivers more quickly than ever before, and the UK new car market saw the strongest overall growth of any significant European market in 2024.
“The industry will assist us in forming the shift to zero-emission automobiles in a manner that benefits drivers, companies, and the environment.
“By working together, we can leverage the clean energy transition to rebuild Britain, create a clean energy superpower, and support thousands of jobs.”
