⛽ Everything you need to know about the UK’s switch to electric

The 2030 ICE ban will end the sales of new petrol and diesel cars in the UK. You will still be able to drive your old car and buy fuel powered cars on the second hand market. There are no plans to completely ban petrol and diesel cars. In 2035, the policy will extend to hybrids in a similar way.

The government has laid out detailed plans here.

Yes, you can keep your old car, or buy a different petrol or diesel car on the second hand market. Although the government will not ban fuel powered cars completely, local clean air zones, and zero emissions zones might affect where you can drive your car. Hybrid cars will also be phased out after 2035 - so it’s worth keeping in mind!

To find out more about clean air zones, check the government guidance here.

Drivers can save around £700 a year by going electric - more so when driving a lot! This is because electricity is much cheaper than fuel. In total, the savings are estimated to be around £5 billion a year.

This policy will reduce air pollution - creating cleaner streets and saving the NHS money, whilst improving our overall health - especially in cities. It will also increase investment in UK manufacturing - with gigafactories and EV-related start-ups already popping up around the country.

The reduced demand for fuel will curb our reliance on foreign oil, whilst giving the UK time to transition to a truly sustainable electric grid in a sensible, and gradual manner.

The transition to electric will help to drastically cut emissions emissions from cars. This is in line with the government’s commitment to net zero, and fulfils a key pledge from the 2019 Conservative manifesto.

The transition is designed to put Britain at the forefront of electric drive technology. It future proofs the motor industry in the UK by signalling to the market that the UK will be among the first to fully electrify their roads.

With the market already going full throttle towards EVs, and many manufacturers already pledging that they will be only offering EVs by set dates, it makes the UK very desirable for further investment in our manufacturing industry.

Over 40 countries have a phase out date which they are aiming for. These countries represent over half the of global car market with leading brands such as Hyundai, Kia, and Mercedes now setting their own targets for the electric transition!

Britain is paving the way for an electric future, alongside countries like Norway, Ireland, France and Singapore. Most of Western Europe, and North America are now well on their way to phasing out petrol and diesel.

You may have a preconception of the types of people who go electric, but EV drivers are a diverse bunch that is growing every day. In fact, the EV market is booming!

At the start of 2021, 8% on cars sold monthly were electric, but his increased to around 20-25% per month currently - with more drivers making the switch.

In total over 150,000 people switched to EV last year, and this change will only accelerate in the next few years - not just in the UK, but across Europe too.

It may then seem tempting to wait until the last minute to get an EV, but now is the perfect time for the switch - and here’s why.

The technology has seen an unprecedented spike in research and development. There are now cars of all shapes and sizes, ranging from small city cars to family SUVs - with ranges of 100 to 400+ miles.

By making the switch early, you can still benefit from the extra perks the government is offering - with tax incentives, discounts and local borough charging trials. If you were waiting for the perfect time to get an EV - it’s arrived!

Yes. The companies who are responsible for cables and overhead lines have been preparing for the mass adoption of electric cars since 2012. The National Grid has been clear that there is enough capacity to meet future demand.

From July 2019 all new home chargers are required to be ‘smart’ to be eligible for a government grant, which will allow electric cars to charge when electricity is cheaper due to lower demand.

Electric cars are better for climate - even when the source of electricity is considered.

The absence of tailpipe emissions helps to improve air quality, especially in cities. The electric drive train is also more efficient than comparable combustion engines. Finally, when electricity production is considered - the renewables already on the grid help to offset the CO2 emissions.

You can make your EV even more sustainable by using a 100% renewable tariff, such as that from Octopus Energy. Combustion engine cars can never be truly ‘climate neutral’ due to the constant burning of fuel. As the UKs energy grid improves, however, it is now easier than ever to run an EV in a sustainable manner.

Hydrogen is increasingly talked about as a green alternative energy fuel, but almost all hydrogen made today is made from fossil gas (methane). It is expensive to manufacture, and is perhaps decades away from practical use.

Hydrogen will probably play a role in the transition of larger transport options such as in rail and air travel but we are a long way from this being a reality. There are currently just 11 hydrogen stations in all of the UK, with 2 cars on sale.