Time to Go Green? UK Petrol & Diesel Ban Coming in 2030

A ban on new diesel and petrol vehicles is set to come into effect from 2030 as the government made the move to bring the ban on the sale of combustion engine vehicles into play sooner than the original 2035 target.

Is the UK ready for a new petrol car ban in 2030?

This is the big question; will the UK be ready for such a shift to greener EVs by 2030?

Motoring groups, infrastructure companies and electricity networks are focused on encouraging the uptake of EV’s and the race is on to install rapid chargers and finding solutions for those without off-street parking to ensure people can remain on the move.

An Ever Growing Charging Infrastructure

According to Zap-Map, there are now 36,700 public chargers at over 13,000 locations across the UK with chargers becoming more of a common site at petrol stations, supermarkets and hotels. Greater London leads the way, with more than 9,000 connectors. Back in November, Boris Johnson announced £1.3bn would be provided to help speed up the rollout of charging infrastructure.

However, there are still some problems to iron out with high costs involved in bringing high power charging capability to rural locations and the ongoing issue with multiple accounts required to charge at existing locations depending on the charge point operator, with calls for the government to legislate the area.

Bristol Diesel Ban – A Sign of Things to Come?

Motorists in Bristol are soon to be charged to enter a clean air zone (CAZ) with fees set to apply 24/7 with diesel, petrol and hybrid vehicles set to incur the charge. Air pollution in the city is currently at illegally high levels, despite an improvement throughout the pandemic with fewer vehicles on the roads. Many councils throughout the UK will be watching closely and considering how they can achieve better air quality for their local residents.

EV Myth Busting

As we do head towards the ban on petrol and diesel vehicles, we have put some answers together to dispel many of the myths surrounding electric vehicles.

·         Electric Vehicles are boring to drive.

You will find EVs offer instant torque and smooth acceleration, plus responsive handling and great performance. If you look inside a Nissan Leaf or get behind the wheel of a Tesla, you will be blown away by the looks and technology on offer too.

·         You can only use EVs for short journeys.

Many EV’s are designed to be city cars; however, the range is ample with the vast majority of electric vehicles, including those in our fleet, easily capable of racking up over 100 miles from one charge. For those looking for more range, longer-range vehicles are available to rent. Not only this, you can plug your car in when you get home at the end of the day, wake up for work the next day and you will have a fully charged car.

·         They are very expensive.

Despite being slightly more expensive to purchase, EV drivers are able to benefit from huge savings down the line. Grants are available to those who purchase a new electric vehicle, while they are also exempt from road tax. On a cost per mile basis, an EV is a third of the cost of a petrol or diesel car and with only three components to worry about maintenance wise, servicing and repairs are significantly lower than a petrol or diesel model.

Try Before You Buy EV Experiences

Volt-Age Hire offers commuters the experience of trying out an EV, whether that is for the day, the week or the month.  Our customers are curious to try out an EV for the first time, and with a car to suit any budget or journey, we are happy to oblige and help educate them on charging, range and more.

We even have dual control EVs for driving schools to utilise, as a young driver of the future is set to drive battery-powered vehicles as opposed to combustion engines. In addition to this, our Nissan E-NV200 has proven a hit with couriers and those looking to hire a reliable electric van.

Unlike many other vehicle hire companies, Volt-Age is proudly 100% electric, driving change towards a cleaner future. We are equipped and have all the knowledge to advise those who in the market to purchase an EV. If you are on the fence and thinking about a new car, why not get in touch and try one for yourself?