Jaguar Land Rover called for financial incentives and charging infrastructure needed to ensure the take-up of electric vehicles at the rate needed to meet the U.K.’s target of banning all new petrol and diesel cars by 2040. “Only 1% of cars driven in the U.K. today are electric,” it noted, adding that it recognised that zero emissions were the “future.”
‘Working towards 2040’
“We welcome the clarity provided on the transition to the future where electric cars are the norm… JLR is already working towards the 2040 timetable in moving to autonomous, connected, electric vehicles.” Last year, JLR unveiled its first electric car — the I-Pace, set to go on sale next year. From 2020, every new JLR vehicle line will have an electric option.
“New, clean diesel and petrol engines will retain a key role in controlling carbon emissions and restricting air pollution. We’re pleased to see the plan recognise the fundamental difference between older vehicles which contribute to air pollution and newly developed engines (known as “Eu6”) which are part of the air quality solution.”
A similar call came from Britain’s auto industry body, which said that enough time was needed to allow the sector to adjust. “Much depends on the cost of these new technologies and how willing consumers are to adopt battery, plug in hybrid and hydrogen cars,” said Mike Hawes, CEO, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd. “Currently, demand for alternatively fuelled vehicles is growing but still at a very low level as consumers have concern over affordability, range and charging points.”Outright bans risk undermining the current market for new cars and our sector, which supports over 800,000 jobs across the U.K. so the industry instead wants a positive approach, which gives consumers incentives to purchase these cars.
With governments across the world warning of penalties or bans on the use of diesel or petrol cars, the global auto industry has begun to react. Sweden’s Volvo said this month that all its new cars from 2019 would be either entirely electric or hybrid, marking the “end of the solely combustion engine-powered car.” Earlier this week, BMW said that a fully electric version of the Mini would be built at its Oxford factory from 2019.
While industry may be concerned about a lack of time and support, environmental campaigners are seeking more urgent action. “We cannot wait nearly a quarter of a century for real action to tackle the public health emergency caused by air pollution,” warned Areeba Hamid of Greenpeace U.K. “Germany, India, the Netherlands and Norway are all considering bans by 2030 or sooner.”
