March 2020

NEWS A ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles could come even sooner than expected. The government initially brought the deadline forward to 2035, before saying it will aim for 2032. The ban will also be widened to include hybrids for the first time as well. The ban was originally announced in July 2017. 2040 had been previously announced as the date for stopping new petrol and diesel vehicle sales. However, during his launch of the COP26 UN climate talks, set for November and being held in Glasgow, Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined plans to make the UK a leader in tackling climate change, with the revised 2035 date among the headline points. One of the reasons behind the revised deadline is that it is believed that the original 2040 target would leave internal combustion engine vehicles still running after 2050. At the launch, held at the Science Museum in London, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “As we set out our plans to hit our ambitious 2050 net zero target across this year, so we shall urge others to join us in pledging net zero emissions. There can be no greater responsibility than protecting our planet, and no mission that a global Britain is prouder to serve." A week later, Transport Minister Grant Shapps told BBC Radio 5 Live that the ban could be put in place as early as 2032, just 12 years from now. The revision will be examined in a consultation. Commenting on the revised plans, SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said: “It’s extremely concerning that government has seemingly moved the goalposts for consumers and industry on such a critical issue. Manufacturers are fully invested in a zero emissions future, with some 60 plug-in models now on the market and 34 more coming in 2020. However, with current demand for this still expensive technology still just a fraction of sales, it’s clear that accelerating an already very challenging ambition will take more than industry investment. This is about market transformation, yet we still don’t have clarity on the future of the plug-in car grant – the most significant driver of EV uptake, while the UK’s charging network is still woefully inadequate. “If the UK is to lead the global zero emissions agenda, we need a competitive marketplace and a competitive business environment to encourage manufacturers to sell and build here. A date without a plan will merely destroy value today. We therefore need to hear how government plans to fulfil its ambitions in a sustainable way, one that safeguards industry and jobs, allows people from all income groups and regions to adapt and benefit, and, crucially, does not undermine sales of today’s low emission technologies, including popular hybrids, all of which are essential to deliver air quality and climate change goals now.” IMI CEO Steve Nash welcomed the new earlier deadline, but warned that investment will need to be made in EV skills training to support it: “Currently just 5% of the sector is appropriately qualified to work on electric vehicles so in the next 15 years the race will be on to get the rest of the workforce up to speed. “The news that the ban on the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles has been brought forward is an excellent step in the efforts that need to be made to improve air quality and tackle the threat of climate change. But it brings an added pressure for the automotive retail sector, and specifically the businesses that service and maintain vehicles. “The IMI has been lobbying hard for support from Government to get the technician workforce appropriately qualified, but there is still a big challenge ahead of us to ensure there are sufficient technicians qualified. “There are considerable challenges when it comes to ensuring staff are properly trained and qualified to work on electrified vehicles which pose a significant safety risk. The EV Professional Standard is a significant step forward to address these concerns, and it will not stand still. The EV TechSafe standard will evolve with the technology and the needs of the motor retail industry.” 4 AFTERMARKET MARCH 2020 www.aftermarketonline.net Government aims for new 2030s petrol/diesel ban deadline CAR TYPES SOLD IN 2019 n 2,311,140 new cars were sold in the UK in 2019 n Of the total, 64.8% were petrol engine vehicles, while 25.2% were diesel engine vehicles n Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) made up 4.2% of the total, while hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) represented 1.5% of all cars sold during the year n Of the rest, 1.4% were mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs) using diesel engines, while the final 1.1% were MHEVs running with petrol n Just 1.6% of vehicles sold in 2019 were full battery electric vehicles (BEVs) SOURCE: SMMT