Hybrid vehicles confirmed as exempt from 2040 petrol and diesel ban in the UK

The UK government has confirmed that hybrid cars and vans will be excluded from its 2040 ban on petrol and diesel new car sales.

As revealed by Autocar UK in May, the UK's new 'Road to Zero' strategy will allow electrified models to be sold, so long as they are classed as ultra-low-emissions vehicles (ULEV).

At present, these are cars that emit on average less than 75g/km of CO2, of which the vast majority are plug-in hybrids capable of electric-only running. The Government intends for at least 50% (it targets 70%) of new car sales to be of ULEVs by 2030.

Society of Motor Traders and Manufacturers  (SMMT) boss, Mike Hawes, said that allowing combustion engine-based powertrains to remain in production after 2040 was essential for the industry's transition to zero-emission transport. He said, “The Road to Zero Strategy recognises the huge progress already made and the vital role conventional engines, including diesel, will continue to play in the transition to 2040 and beyond. The latest advanced diesels meet the world’s toughest emissions standards, helping to reduce climate change and improve air quality – while also providing affordable mobility to millions of motorists, particularly those that travel longer distances and deliver our essential goods and services".

The 2040 ban was announced last year and came as part of the UK's air quality plan, which aims to reduce emissions produced in several sectors, including private transport. The Road to Zero strategy supports this and is focused on road transport.

Aside from lowering harmful emissions and improving air quality, the UK government predicts that investment into more sustainable car technology will provide the UK with an opportunity to become a global leader of an industry that it predicts that its industrial strategy will be worth up to £7.6 trillion (Rs 6 crore crore) per year by 2050.

The UK has been particularly cautious in its ban on pure combustion and petrol vehicle sales by not supporting one low-emission technology over another. Its Government said in a statement: “The Road to Zero Strategy is technology-neutral and does not speculate on which technologies might help to deliver the Government’s 2040 mission”.

This comes a month after Richard Harrington, under-secretary for business, energy and industrial strategy, stated that it’s not possible to predict which technology will be best placed to provide sustainable transport energy in the next couple of decades.

"With no one clear technology winner at this early stage, we are pleased policymakers have listened to industry’s calls to avoid prescriptive measures, which would hamper innovation and hold progress back, recognising that the transition should be led by industry and consumers," said Hawes.

The UK Government has committed to £1.5 billion (Rs 13,653 crore) worth of investment into ULEVs by 2020, ramping up the rollout of vehicle chargers via its £400 million (Rs 3,640 crore) Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund, as well as creating a £40 million (Rs 364 crore) programme to develop and test low-cost wireless and on-street charging technology.

Added to its existing plug-in car grant, which removes up to £4500 (Rs 409,721) from the list price of an electrified vehicle, the Government also provides up to £500 (Rs 45,539) to electric vehicle owners wanting to add a car plug to their homes, via the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme.

Electrified vehicle sales have rocketed in recent months, with more than 150,000 ULEVs on British roads at the last count. However, this still represents just 0.4 percent of all vehicles.