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Climate change: Electric car target 'needs to be sooner' | Climate change: Electric car target 'needs to be sooner' |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The UK government's plan to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2040 is too tame, advisers will say. | The UK government's plan to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2040 is too tame, advisers will say. |
Drivers will benefit if electric cars come to dominate the new car market a full decade earlier, they will claim. | Drivers will benefit if electric cars come to dominate the new car market a full decade earlier, they will claim. |
The Committee on Climate Change believes the cost of electric cars will be similar to that of petrol or diesel vehicles by 2024-5. | The Committee on Climate Change believes the cost of electric cars will be similar to that of petrol or diesel vehicles by 2024-5. |
But the speed of installing charging points will have to radically improve to cope with the coming demand. | But the speed of installing charging points will have to radically improve to cope with the coming demand. |
What is the current policy? | What is the current policy? |
The UK government's current policy is to insist that by 2040, all new cars and vans sold in the UK should be zero emissions - that means electric or hydrogen. | The UK government's current policy is to insist that by 2040, all new cars and vans sold in the UK should be zero emissions - that means electric or hydrogen. |
But critics have pointed out that would mean some older petrol and diesel vehicles will still be on the roads after 2050. | But critics have pointed out that would mean some older petrol and diesel vehicles will still be on the roads after 2050. |
That's the expected date by which the government should have reduced carbon emissions from all sources to zero. | That's the expected date by which the government should have reduced carbon emissions from all sources to zero. |
Climate change: Where we are in seven charts | |
To keep carbon emissions down, look underfoot | |
Glimpsing a world beyond human extinction | |
'Nature's emergency is our emergency too' | |
How soon could British drivers be going all-electric? | How soon could British drivers be going all-electric? |
The committee believes drivers can cash in by switching to zero-emissions vehicles when the price comes down. | The committee believes drivers can cash in by switching to zero-emissions vehicles when the price comes down. |
It anticipates big savings in fuel and also in the costs of running and servicing an electric vehicle. | It anticipates big savings in fuel and also in the costs of running and servicing an electric vehicle. |
The committee will say 2030 would be a feasible date for the government to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars. | The committee will say 2030 would be a feasible date for the government to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars. |
But members have to be sure their recommendations are achievable and they're not certain there will be enough cobalt in the world by then to build the batteries needed. | But members have to be sure their recommendations are achievable and they're not certain there will be enough cobalt in the world by then to build the batteries needed. |
So I understand they'll recommend that the end date for new fossil fuel-powered cars should be 2035 at the latest. | So I understand they'll recommend that the end date for new fossil fuel-powered cars should be 2035 at the latest. |
When will there be an adequate charging network? | When will there be an adequate charging network? |
There's a big question mark over whether we will be able to reliably charge up. The committee has repeatedly warned the government that the installation of charging points is too slow. | There's a big question mark over whether we will be able to reliably charge up. The committee has repeatedly warned the government that the installation of charging points is too slow. |
MPs have weighed in, too. Mary Creagh, chair of the environment audit committee, told me: "Ministers are useless. | MPs have weighed in, too. Mary Creagh, chair of the environment audit committee, told me: "Ministers are useless. |
"They seem to think the market will miraculous provide charging point and the government has no job to regulate charging points." | "They seem to think the market will miraculous provide charging point and the government has no job to regulate charging points." |
From my own personal experience of borrowing an electric car for a long weekend, charging at motorway services was fine - but in deepest Dorset I tried two charge points provided by smaller firms, but both had software problems which made it impossible for me to get any power. | From my own personal experience of borrowing an electric car for a long weekend, charging at motorway services was fine - but in deepest Dorset I tried two charge points provided by smaller firms, but both had software problems which made it impossible for me to get any power. |
Is it possible to switch to all-electric by 2030? | Is it possible to switch to all-electric by 2030? |
AA President Edmund King says not. He said if battery manufacturers could find enough resources, electric cars might undercut petrol cars on price in the late 2020s. | AA President Edmund King says not. He said if battery manufacturers could find enough resources, electric cars might undercut petrol cars on price in the late 2020s. |
But, he said: "On balance we feel that the 2040 target is about right and still challenging for industry and governments." | But, he said: "On balance we feel that the 2040 target is about right and still challenging for industry and governments." |
But Bloomberg New Energy Finance estimates that electric vehicles will compete on cost with petrol and diesel, starting in 2024. China will be in the lead, it says. | But Bloomberg New Energy Finance estimates that electric vehicles will compete on cost with petrol and diesel, starting in 2024. China will be in the lead, it says. |
The Scottish government has a target of 2032 - and the insurance group LV is backing that. It said: "The UK is in a fortunate position in that motor manufacturers have already matched demand with a production line stacked with electric car and plug-in hybrid models, as the clamour from consumers' changes to cleaner motoring." | The Scottish government has a target of 2032 - and the insurance group LV is backing that. It said: "The UK is in a fortunate position in that motor manufacturers have already matched demand with a production line stacked with electric car and plug-in hybrid models, as the clamour from consumers' changes to cleaner motoring." |
A source at the Department for Transport indicated that the government might consider bringing forward the switchover date if drivers were turning to electric cars more quickly. | A source at the Department for Transport indicated that the government might consider bringing forward the switchover date if drivers were turning to electric cars more quickly. |
He said the department was in talks with the Treasury over a plan to subsidise car charging points in people's homes. | He said the department was in talks with the Treasury over a plan to subsidise car charging points in people's homes. |
This, he said, would be more economical than trying to get a comprehensive network of public charging points across the country. | This, he said, would be more economical than trying to get a comprehensive network of public charging points across the country. |
Follow Roger on Twitter. | Follow Roger on Twitter. |