The 2030 Ban on Petrol and Diesel Explained: Will Hybrids Be Included?

Many private new car buyers are struggling with their purchasing decisions. With the governmental 2030 ban in mind, they are, understandably, cautious about new petrol, or diesels. Yet, they remain unconvinced about Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), for a wide variety of reasons, especially when they cannot benefit from generous governmental financial incentives to offset the high cost and savage depreciation of some models.

The Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PHEV) appears to be a sensible compromise - or is it? To explain, this is a vehicle with a combustion engine (petrol usually), supported by electric drive batteries that can be charged from home to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

The UK government even used to incentivise their purchase with grants but the last few years have seen the tide turn. Just like diesels cars, the government might be about to change its mind on technology that it once endorsed. Five years ago, it was reported that Plug-In Hybrids may never have been charged by their drivers, which undermined their whole purpose as a credible replacement for diesels vehicles.

The latest hammer blow for PHEVs (at the time of writing in June 2023) comes from The Climate Change Committee (CCC), confirming that PHEVs are not as fuel efficient as first thought. As a result, the environmental benefits are way off, too.

Data from the Government’s Carbon Budget Delivery Plan (CBDP) says that PHEV carbon dioxide savings are up to five times less than believed.

The CCC concludes that Battery Electric Vehicles, therefore, should be prioritised against PHEVs and that the Government should use this evidence to support battery electric vehicles only, because PHEVs are a continuation of fossil fuel vehicles.

This may result in the government bringing forward its proposed banning of hybrid vehicles from 2035 to 2030. Whatever happens, should you think that buying a PHEV will protect you from future draconian measures against cars with combustion engines, you might wish to think again.

The CCC's report can be downloaded here: https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/2023-progress-report-to-parliament/#downloads

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