The British government’s decision to delay the ban on the sale of new fossil fuel cars has sparked frustration among environmentalists and automakers. However, the delay in the UK’s ban is unlikely to alter the trajectory of electric vehicle adoption.
While the announcement raised concerns among automakers about potential disruptions to supply systems and investment uncertainties, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak justified the five-year postponement until 2035 as a measure to address the cost of living issues affecting those unable to afford expensive EVs.
Despite criticisms and concerns about damaging investment certainty, the delay in the ban is unlikely to affect the upward curve of EV sales. The initial 2030 ban proposal aimed to position the UK as a leader in the global EV market, preceding the EU’s 2035 ban, which applies to most cars sold in the UK.
According to the government’s initial plan, low-emission hybrid vehicles would be permitted until 2035, with the goal of achieving 80% electric vehicle sales by 2030 through a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. Some automakers expressed reservations, but Jaguar Land Rover welcomed the ZEV Mandate for providing certainty.
While the UK’s automotive market represents only about 2% of global sales, global automakers have already made significant investments in electric vehicles, responding to factors such as the high cost of producing combustion engine vehicles.
The delay in Britain “won’t make much of a difference,” according to Supply Chain Insights managing director Andy Leyland. He explains that legacy automakers need to compete with Chinese and Tesla producers on price, and must transition to fully electric vehicles.
Notably, Volvo Cars, Ford, and Stellantis have committed to exclusively producing electric vehicles in Europe by 2030, reducing fossil fuel model options. EV infrastructure companies, like InstaVolt, maintain confidence in the EV revolution. Adrian Keen, CEO of InstaVolt, anticipates that people will continue to purchase EV’s as prices continue to decline. Thus, InstaVolt’s 2030 goal of 10,000 chargers is still in place.
Despite the delay in the ban, advancements in EV technology persist, reinforcing the belief that the future of automobiles is electric.
