Peter Vosper: UK petrol and diesel car ban could be scrapped under new plan

The Tory party will scrap the petrol car ban if they win the next election.

Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative party leader said in the Sunday Telegraph, the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate (ZEV)
was “a well meaning but ultimately a destructive piece of legislation.”

This follows a report that the EU is about to push back the ban on the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles five years to 2040 and
follows a meeting between Badenoch and Italian Prime Minister, Georgia Meloni who has lobbied the EU to water down its own plan for a ban.

Six EU countries, including Italy, have called upon member states to rethink plans to phase out new petrol and diesel cars by 2035, saying it could hurt industrial competitiveness.

Badenoch said “The reality is that the EU’s change of heart on EVs will leave Labour even more isolated, and by pressing ahead alone we are placing our domestic industry at a disadvantage while giving others the opportunity to dominate global supply chains”. She said, “Winners in this economic self-harm are China”.

She added that the Conservative government would still move towards “a transition to cleaner transport but one driven by
“affordability, practicality, and technological progress” rather than “unrealistic mandates that weaken domestic
manufacturing and empower foreign competitors”.

Badenoch also said, “car manufacturers have already stopped investing in the UK, many people are taking their investment elsewhere”.

Instead, the market should be allowed to decide when petrol and diesel cars are phased out, she said. “People want to do their best for the environment, but they have to be able to do it in that is sustainable in a way they can afford – we need a common-sense approach”. She said scrapping the mandate would give “space” to rebuild the UK car industry.

In America General Motors and now Ford Motor Company have announced a cut -back on electric vehicle investment with
Ford’s Chief Executive, Jim Farley, stating the automotive industry is faces “a fight for our lives” against Chinese competition, leading Ford to shift from large EVs to hybrids, trucks, (Ford Pro), and affordable EVs, while keeping V8 Mustangs alive.

He praised recent rollbacks of US fuel economy standards as “common-sense” and aligned with customer demand, while warning Europe that its strict targets and Chinese rivals threaten its automotive industry’s future, without significant change.

Ford is to offer broad choice with gas, hybrids and EVs, with a range of hybrids to complement efficient gas (petrol) engines. As part of these actions Ford no longer plans to produce larger select electric vehicles where the business case has eroded due to lower-than-expected demand, high costs and regulatory changes. “This a customer-driven shift to create a stronger, more resilient and more profitable Ford” said Ford President and CEO, Jim Farley.

This evolved strategy is built on four key pillars. Expanding customer choice with gas(petrol), hybrids, and low-cost electric vehicle platforms.

By 2030 Ford expects approximately 50% of its global volume will be hybrids, extended range EVs and fully
electric vehicles, up from 17% in 2025. Is this the way forward with evolution of new technology and customer demand and satisfaction, instead of no choice on a path that is obviously failing with inadequate infrastructure and the likelihood of supply not being able to provide adequate resource?

Watch this space.