Concerns are growing over the zero-start goal as the watch approaches a 2030 motorcycle ban.

New car sales in the UK have risen over the past month, but fears are growing that the UK will struggle to hit zero unless it decides to drive less.

A total of 74,441 new vehicles were registered last month, up 26.2% from the same period last year, according to the trade association Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

A shortage of global supply chains, especially computer chips, is making it difficult for automakers to keep up with demand, according to SMMT.

Registrations for all of 2023 are forecast to reach 1.79 million, up 11.1% from 2021.
But while hybrid electric vehicle registrations rose 40 percent, pure-electric vehicle market share stood at 16.5 percent, up from 17.1 percent last month. Only the all-electric Tesla Model Y is in the top 10 best-selling vehicles.

Steve Gooding of the RAC Foundation said: “This increase in overall sales seems like good news. But in terms of the cars we buy, the market share of battery electric vehicles is disappointing given the role that electric vehicles will play in meeting our climate change goals.

“Unless we decide to drive less, we estimate that by the end of 2030 more than a third (37 percent) of all car kilometers should be emission-free. Right now it is less than two percent, which suggests that a much faster adoption of all-electric models is needed.”

The RAC has warned that increased sales of hybrid vehicles will do little to meet environmental targets. Our own research has shown that hybrid car drivers rely too much on the gasoline engine and too little on the electric drive.

“For plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technology to have a greater impact, some fundamental changes will be required. If, for example, new hybrids are equipped with software that strictly enforces the use of electricity, have a shorter range than gasoline-powered vehicles, or have a greater range on electricity, or vehicle drivers are incentivized to drive as much as possible on electricity, then it is possible to achieve progress in this direction. concluded her report.

Ben Nelmes of transport think tank New AutoMotive said: “In order to support the UK’s progress in electric transport, the government needs to step up efforts to increase the supply of electric vehicles to the UK. The upcoming Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) mandate will encourage manufacturers to sell electric vehicles in the UK to ensure that enough electric vehicles are imported into the country or made in the UK.

“It is important to finalize the details of the mandate as soon as possible, as it is due to enter into force in 2024. Any delay in its implementation will jeopardize the pace of the transition and penalize drivers who want to turn on electric vehicles and do their part to reduce emissions.”

The mandate follows an independent review of the government’s net zero strategy, which suggested it should be implemented by 2024. The mandate obliges manufacturers to sell a certain proportion of electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030.

SMMT chief Mike Hawes said it was “vital” that the government also “support the transition to green driving.”

The figures come after it was revealed that both Ferrari and Porsche are seeking exemptions from the European Union’s planned ban on new conventional engines in 2035 for conventional vehicles with internal combustion engines that use synthetic electric fuel or e-fuel instead of gasoline or diesel. .

Her lobbying work with the governments of Germany and Italy resulted in the vote on the 2035 ban being suspended shortly before it went into effect, according to Bloomberg.

Formula 1 will switch to cleaner synthetic fuels in 2026, and automakers making high-performance cars prefer them over heavy-duty electric batteries that hamper performance.

MPs said last week that access to alternative fuels could be a fairer option for motorists than having to buy expensive electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.

The transportation agency said that increased investment in renewable fuels could reduce the risks of electric vehicle batteries or insufficient network capacity, and counter conventional vehicles remaining on the roads after the sale of new vehicles with conventional engines is banned.