This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/nov/22/treasury-backs-electric-cars-but-makes-limited-moves-on-diesel
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Treasury backs electric cars but makes limited moves on diesel | Treasury backs electric cars but makes limited moves on diesel |
| (6 days later) | |
| Electric cars have received a funding boost with the government earmarking £340m for a national charging network and subsidies for vehicle purchases. | Electric cars have received a funding boost with the government earmarking £340m for a national charging network and subsidies for vehicle purchases. |
| However, further budget backing for greener vehicles was limited to a small rise in vehicle excise duty for new diesel cars that fail to meet rigorous emissions standards – disappointing campaigners who had hoped for a rise in fuel duty or a diesel scrappage scheme. | However, further budget backing for greener vehicles was limited to a small rise in vehicle excise duty for new diesel cars that fail to meet rigorous emissions standards – disappointing campaigners who had hoped for a rise in fuel duty or a diesel scrappage scheme. |
| The government will contribute £200m to a £400m fund to upgrade the electric car-charging infrastructure, as well as setting aside a further £40m for research and development into charging technology. The chancellor committed a further £100m to maintain a car-buying subsidy until 2020, which contributes up to £4,500 towards the cost of buying an electric vehicle. | The government will contribute £200m to a £400m fund to upgrade the electric car-charging infrastructure, as well as setting aside a further £40m for research and development into charging technology. The chancellor committed a further £100m to maintain a car-buying subsidy until 2020, which contributes up to £4,500 towards the cost of buying an electric vehicle. |
| There are 115,000 electric cars in the UK and 13,000 charging points spread across 4,500 locations. | There are 115,000 electric cars in the UK and 13,000 charging points spread across 4,500 locations. |
| Announcing the electric car funding, Philip Hammond said: “Our future vehicles will be driverless, but they’ll be electric first. And that’s a change that needs to come as soon as possible.” | Announcing the electric car funding, Philip Hammond said: “Our future vehicles will be driverless, but they’ll be electric first. And that’s a change that needs to come as soon as possible.” |
| Although moves on driverless cars had been widely trailed before the budget, the chancellor only made passing reference to the technology in his speech. However, the budget report confirms that the government will reform road laws to allow self-driving cars on UK roads by 2021. | Although moves on driverless cars had been widely trailed before the budget, the chancellor only made passing reference to the technology in his speech. However, the budget report confirms that the government will reform road laws to allow self-driving cars on UK roads by 2021. |
| Other measures in the budget to increase the take-up of next generation vehicles will include a commitment to make 25% of cars in central government department fleets electric by 2022, and to remove any tax for employees who recharge their vehicles at work. An innovation prize will also be launched by the National Infrastructure Commission to determine how roads should be built to support self-driving cars. | Other measures in the budget to increase the take-up of next generation vehicles will include a commitment to make 25% of cars in central government department fleets electric by 2022, and to remove any tax for employees who recharge their vehicles at work. An innovation prize will also be launched by the National Infrastructure Commission to determine how roads should be built to support self-driving cars. |
| The Petrol Retailers Association – whose members may soon be forced by law to install charging points alongside pumps – said it hoped the £400m charging fund would be partly ringfenced for them, adding: “If the government insists on mandating EV charging equipment upon retailers, they must be prepared share some of the financial burden.” | The Petrol Retailers Association – whose members may soon be forced by law to install charging points alongside pumps – said it hoped the £400m charging fund would be partly ringfenced for them, adding: “If the government insists on mandating EV charging equipment upon retailers, they must be prepared share some of the financial burden.” |
| Meanwhile, Hammond made limited moves to tackle diesel, saying the “tax system can play an important role in protecting our environment”. Diesel cars that have yet to pass on-the-road emissions tests will move to a higher tax band for vehicle excise duty. Along with a 1% rise in company car tax for diesel vehicles, the move would fund a £220m clean air fund, Hammond said. | Meanwhile, Hammond made limited moves to tackle diesel, saying the “tax system can play an important role in protecting our environment”. Diesel cars that have yet to pass on-the-road emissions tests will move to a higher tax band for vehicle excise duty. Along with a 1% rise in company car tax for diesel vehicles, the move would fund a £220m clean air fund, Hammond said. |
| But documents published by the Treasury said carbuyers’ response to the policy change would be “negligible” – putting a one-off £20 on the cost of a new Ford Focus. | But documents published by the Treasury said carbuyers’ response to the policy change would be “negligible” – putting a one-off £20 on the cost of a new Ford Focus. |
| Some campaigners said it remained an important symbolic move. Dr Penny Woods, of the British Lung Foundation, said: “Increasing tax on new diesel cars sends a clear message that diesel is toxic.” | Some campaigners said it remained an important symbolic move. Dr Penny Woods, of the British Lung Foundation, said: “Increasing tax on new diesel cars sends a clear message that diesel is toxic.” |
| However, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The measures announced to clean up our polluted air are totally inadequate – and no action to introduce a desperately needed diesel scrappage fund.” | However, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The measures announced to clean up our polluted air are totally inadequate – and no action to introduce a desperately needed diesel scrappage fund.” |
| Hammond admitted he was averting negative headlines by not bringing in wider moves on diesel and continuing to freeze fuel duty. He said: “No white van man (or woman) will be hit by these measures.” | Hammond admitted he was averting negative headlines by not bringing in wider moves on diesel and continuing to freeze fuel duty. He said: “No white van man (or woman) will be hit by these measures.” |
| •Follow Guardian Business on Twitter at @BusinessDesk, or sign up to the daily Business Today email here. | •Follow Guardian Business on Twitter at @BusinessDesk, or sign up to the daily Business Today email here. |
| Electric, hybrid and low-emission cars | Electric, hybrid and low-emission cars |
| Economic policy | Economic policy |
| Budget 2017 (November) | Budget 2017 (November) |
| Climate change | Climate change |
| Self-driving cars | Self-driving cars |
| Greenhouse gas emissions | Greenhouse gas emissions |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |