The UK will not follow EU on fossil fuel relaxation

The EU has just banned the sale of new CO2 emitting vehicles from 2035 but with an exemption for carbon-neutral petrol alternatives

It had been assumed that the UK might follow the lead set by the EU on Tuesday 28th March by watering down our country’s commitment to abolishing all new petrol or diesel fueled vehicles from 2030.

In a last minute amendment at the EC Germany and Italy, supported by Poland, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic gained an exemption for vehicles powered by carbon neutral synthetic fuels.

Pictured: Energy Secretary Grant Shapps arriving at 10 Downing Street on Tuesday, March 28

It has been re-confirmed that the UK will stick with its current policy to halt sales of petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030. After that hybrids will be phased out so all new cars and vans are fully zero emissions by 2035.

At Seacourt we welcome the continued commitment by UK government to stick with ambitious plans to move away from fossil fuel powered vehicles.

Our company’s car fleet for Directors and sales team is entirely made up of full-electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles and we have installed fast chargers on our forecourt to run them. Whilst this involved capital expense to set up it results in reduced running and servicing costs and contributes strongly to our 27 year mission to reduce carbon generation at Seacourt.

The story of carbon neutral synthetic fuels is a complicated one and greater detail of both this and the political horse-trading in Europe over the future of the car industry are considered in greater depth by our sources:

Britain's ban on new petrol and diesel cars WILL still take effect from 2030 - Daily Mail Online here

EU 2035 petrol and diesel car ban: Germany reaches deal on synthetic fuels - Euronews Green here