What is going to happen with commercial vehicles after 2030 as they are all diesel-powered at present?

Is this new 2030 ruling for the UK only? If so, what is the rest of the world doing on this? Also, as the majority of our cars are now made outside of our country are we going to have a problem with supplies if they do not follow our policy. What is going to happen with commercial vehicles as they are all diesel-powered at present?

Asked on 18 November 2020 by Colin Mount

Answered by Georgia Petrie
The specific 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel-powered vehicles is UK-only. Other countries have their own rulings in regards to achieving net-zero emissions to combat climate change. France, for example, is doing something similar by 2040 - which was the UK's original date. However, there will be phasing out rather than a sudden stop in the selling of fossil fuels. Firstly, a number of vehicles - like HGVs - rely on fossil fuels and there's no ideal alternative just yet. Secondly, the ban on the sale of cars that are only powered by an internal combustion engine doesn't mean that you can't still use an ICE car after 2030, or buy a used ICE car after 2030.

We expect EVs to be far more popular in ten years than they are now regardless, it's the way the world is moving - albeit relatively slowly as the technology develops to meet real-world needs. On top of that, a huge number of cars are already mild-hybrids, and as such won't be phased out of sale until 2035. As for vans, manufacturers are already moving away from diesel-power - just as many carmakers are. Mercedes-Benz has electric versions of the Vito and Sprinter and Ford has also revealed an electric E-Transit - which will go on sale alongside the Transit Custom plug-in hybrid.
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