THE Petrol Retailers Association has slammed UK Government plans to ban the sale of new cars and vans that are not fully emission free by 2040.
In its The Road to Zero report, the UK Department for Transport set a goal for all new cars and vans to be “effectively zero emission” by 2040.
This goal is in addition to the government’s proposed ban on the sale of conventional petrol and diesel cars, currently scheduled for 2030.
The 2040 deadline would capture petrol and diesel hybrid vehicles currently on the market, which still produce some emissions.
Gordon Balmer, executive director of the PRA said the proposal was “optimistic but completely unrealistic.”
“We welcome the Government’s good intentions for decarbonising transport, but they have to be based on what is achievable.
“Alternatives to diesel such as electric and hydrogen have not yet been developed to a point where they can be sold into the commercial freight sector. You cannot legislate your way to inventing cleaner technologies. Without a roadmap, this is a mere aspiration.
“Our members are supportive of the principle of decarbonisation, but there needs to be a realistic and well thought-out plan to support these proposals, including how refuelling infrastructure will support alternative fuels such as hydrogen,” he said.
