What Does The Petrol And Diesel Ban Delay Mean For Fleets?
The government has officially announced that the ban on the production of new petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles is being pushed back.
It came after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced pressure to deliver on promises made by the government over their environmental pledges.
The UK’s previous position was that the production of ALL new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles would be banned in 2030…
But that’s now been pushed back to 2035, leaving fleets in an uncertain position.
So, What Does The Delay Mean For Fleets?
Well, it’s important to get the picture across the entire motor industry, given the severity of the news.
Major vehicle producers such as Ford have already criticised the move, calling on the government to promote a consistent message after significant changes were made to their production schedules.
Given the pressure on manufacturers to deliver enough electric vehicles for the general public and the commercial market, it’s understandable that the move would be met with criticism.
Experts have pointed out that the UK was already behind in terms of its electricity requirements, though.
That’s likely something that played a big part in the decision to announce the delay, given that there’s a distinct lack of charging capacity AND issues around there being enough power in the National Grid should everyone switch to EVs by 2030.
For fleets, it might delay their decision to move to EVs if they’re not already underway with their electrification plans.
There are other issues at play for many fleets, though, particularly when it comes to the introduction of clean air zones and the launch of the ULEZ in London. Of course, most fleets will be compliant due to natural replacement cycles, but the reality is that the writing has been on the wall for ICE vehicles for some time…
Which is why the news about the delay was so surprising.
What Does It Mean For Electric Vehicles?
Long-term, not a whole lot.
It does delay the uptake and perhaps the government is hoping it buys them (and the motor industry in general) a bit more time to get the network and infrastructure up to speed.
Interestingly, a recent study has found that three-quarters of fleets are postponing their plans to go electric because of rising costs.
The rising cost of living coupled with an increase in the cost of switching out their entire fleet to electric vehicles (EVs) has led to many putting off their plans… something which has played a part in the recent announcement, Rishi Sunak admitted.
The prevailing thought was that more and more EVs would enter the market, making it easier for fleets to make the switch…
But with recent developments in the economy putting increasing pressure on businesses, many are looking to avoid significant outlays in the short-term future.
What do you think of the delay to the petrol and diesel vehicle ban? Will it change your mind or delay you in making the switch to EVs? Do you agree with the decision? Let us know in the comments below…
