The Parliamentary Business Committee is calling for the ban to be brought forward to 2032, eight years ahead of the current target of 2040 which the committee criticised as “vague and unambitious”.
Ministers were also told that they need to “get a grip” when it comes to implementing an effective nationwide charging network, which many identify as one of the main barriers to encouraging electric car use.
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The committee also criticised the recent decision to slash grants available for plug-in vehicles, calling on officials to maintain current support levels to boost EV sales.
In an effort to tackle air pollution on the UK’s roads, the Government announced in 2017 that all new cars and vans should be “effectively zero emission” by 2040, as part of its ‘Road to Zero’ strategy.
This target places the UK behind several other countries such as Norway, which will ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars in 2025, Ireland which has a target of 2030, and Scotland with a 2032 target.
READ MORE: Government needs ‘radical’ plan to boost electric car sales
But the RAC warned that any move to bring forward the ban on petrol and diesel sales would need to be met by bold and decisive action from the Government to make it possible.
“There are still significant barriers that are putting drivers off alternatively fuelled vehicles,” said Nicholas Lyes, RAC head of roads policy. “These include the upfront cost, access to charging infrastructure, and ease and time to charge a vehicle.”
One of the committee’s biggest criticisms of ministers was their failure to deliver a nationwide charging infrastructure by leaving implementation to local authorities and private companies.
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The committee, led by chair Rachel Reeves MP, is calling for new regulations to provide for an extensive, reliable and standardised public network of charging points.
Ms Reeves said: "The Government needs to get a grip and lead on co-ordinating the financial support and technical know-how necessary for local authorities to promote this infrastructure and help ensure that electric cars are an attractive option for consumers."
Mr Lyes echoed this sentiment: “We would like to see a much more ambitious programme to roll out charging infrastructure in more locations, including within new housing developments, at shopping centre car parks and on-street.”
Copyright Press Association 2018. Motoring News articles do not reflect the RAC's views unless clearly stated.
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