The UK has announced that a ban on selling petrol, diesel and hybrid cars and other vehicles will be implemented from 2035 onwards. The ban was initially expected to be in place from 2040, but the government has now brought the date forward. It now also includes all types of hybrid vehicles.

This is mainly due to the warnings they received from climate change experts, who said that 2040 will be too late for a ban on ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles if the UK wants to achieve its goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. 

So, what does the 2035 ban on petrol, diesel and hybrid cars mean for the UK? And, how should we prepare for the rise of the electric vehicle?

How will the ICE ban work?

Prior to the ban, there has been an emphasis on encouraging people to purchase low-emission vehicles, such as hybrid electric vehicles, as these emit less than 75g per kg in terms of CO2 emissions. However, once the ban comes into effect, people will only be able to buy electric or hydrogen vehicles which are zero-emission. 

It is believed that you will still be able to buy second-hand petrol, diesel or hybrid cars after 2035 but the central aim is to get everyone driving electric vehicles by 2050 in order to meet the net-zero carbon emissions target.

Will electric vehicles be an affordable option for consumers?

In 2019, electric vehicle sales made up just 1.6% of the overall market share and they are still largely regarded as an expensive option for consumers. However, electric vehicle sales did increase by 144% in 2019 and a government report suggests that electric vehicles will reach price equivalency with ICE vehicles by the mid-2020s.

Many people believe that the government will introduce incentives to help people invest in electric vehicles before the ban comes into place.

How do we prepare for the ICE ban?

Some people are concerned that the UK is not prepared for the switch to electric. At the moment, the network of EV charging points across the UK is nowhere near what it needs to be in order to support a society of people driving electric vehicles. 

However, we are confident that significant investments will be made in these areas to help build a comprehensive charging infrastructure, both in terms of public charging points and incentives to help people charge more easily at home.

Here at Delta, we want the country to be fully prepared for the 2035 ICE vehicle ban, which is why we are now stocking a comprehensive range of EV charging cables and sockets from Degson. These are available in both tethered and charging cable versions and in both Type 1 and 2 formats. All of the cables and sockets are CE/TUV/UL approved and are available in lengths from 5m to 10m.

You can view a selection of Degson charging cables and sockets here or get in touch with us for more details about the full range.