60 per cent of new cars must be ultra-low emission by 2030, report claims ~ station of gear

Hugo Griffiths 2018-01-17 16:40

Committee on Climate Change report also says 2040 date for banning conventional engines may need to be brought forward by five years

Three out of five new cars and vans sold in the UK need to be ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) by 2030 if the Government is to meet emissions targets, a new report has claimed.

The Committee on Climate Change’s Independent Assessment of the UK’s Clean Growth Strategy says if emissions levels are to reduce meet EU targets - which call for a 44 per cent reduction in emissions levels from 2016 standards by 2030 - three fifths of cars and vans sold by that date must emit less than 75g/km of CO2.

• UK plans diesel and petrol ban from 2040

The authors refer to the Government’s ambition that 30-70 per cent of new car sales should be made up of ULEVs by 2030, but argue that it “will be necessary to deliver towards the upper end of the range for cars”, highlighting a 60 per cent minimum as ideal.

The document also says “it may be necessary for the sales of petrol and diesel vehicles to end by 2035”, bringing forward the much-publicised ban on conventional petrol and diesel cars (IE non-hybrids) by five years.

It warns, meanwhile, that “greater ambition” is needed for vans, which currently have a 40 per cent ULEV target by 2030, while cautioning that: “There is little concrete action on emissions from HGVs.”

It’s not just electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars that hold the possible answer to the future air quality: one scenario postulated imagines hydrogen as “the dominant energy carrier across the economy by 2050”, powering “all cars and vans” – though this would require “extensive development” of infrastructure.

The report’s authors praise the Government’s “strong commitment” to meeting climate targets, but caution that “risks of under-delivery” must be addressed. Previous policy from Whitehall has held it is the Government’s ambition “for almost every car and van on the road to be a zero emission vehicle by 2050.”

Is it realistic for 60 per cent of cars to be ULEVs by 2030? Tell us what you think in the comments...

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