Carmakers could be allowed to sell Toyota Prius hybrid models in the UK until 2035, as the government considers ways to ease rules on the sale of electric cars.
Earlier this week, the government launched an emergency consultation to decide what types of electric cars carmakers can sell after a new ban on petrol and diesel cars is due to come into force from 2030.
Transport Secretary Louise Haig, who resigned on Friday after being found guilty of fraud over a lost company phone in 2014, is open to allowing the sale of “full hybrid” models with conventional engines. It was reported that. According to the Financial Times, the same goes for batteries.
This technology was pioneered in Toyota's Prius model and is now used by multiple manufacturers. Although overall emissions are reduced, cars cannot be driven for long periods of time without using polluting gasoline or diesel engines.
Unlike plug-in hybrid cars, which have larger batteries, full hybrid cars use the engine for charging rather than charging points.
Labor's manifesto promised to bring back the phase-out date for sales of new cars with pure internal combustion engines, which had been pushed back to 2035, back to 2030. In September, it was revealed that the government was considering how long to allow the sale of hybrid cars. car.
Toyota has long lobbied the government to allow it to sell full hybrid cars until 2035, saying it would help secure the future of its Burnaston, Derbyshire, UK car factory. Toyota plans to invest in a new model to replace the Corolla at the plant around 2027, but executives previously said they would not build an all-electric version at that point and would wait for another standard seven-year cycle to pass. said.
The car industry is lobbying for changes to the UK's zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which would see brands increase the proportion of electric vehicles they sell each year, as consumer demand for pure electric vehicles continues to hold. I'm doing it. It was much lower than expected.
Last week, Ford announced 4,000 job cuts in Europe, including 800 in the UK, citing the need to cut costs due to weak electric vehicle sales.
On Tuesday, Stellantis, which owns brands such as Vauxhall, blamed the UK's weak economic situation and the government's ZEV mandate, saying it had put 1,100 jobs at its Luton factory at risk, but many industry insiders is skeptical of its relevance. That night, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told a dinner of 1,000 auto industry executives that the government would “move forward quickly” with changes.
Under the mandate, electric vehicles must account for 22% of new car sales this year, rising to 28% in 2025, although there are key loopholes that could significantly reduce the target. . Car manufacturers face fines of up to £15,000 per vehicle if they fail to meet the targets.
No automaker has publicly disputed the goal of making 80% of electric cars battery-powered by 2030, before new gasoline and diesel engines are completely banned in 2035.
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However, the decision to allow Prius-style cars to be sold after 2030 will be welcomed by the industry as it will encourage a shift away from full gasoline and diesel cars.
The Financial Times quoted government officials as saying that allowing the sale of fully hybrid cars after 2030 would be a “break the glass emergency” scenario.
The consultation will also consider other areas of the ZEV obligation, including a “trade” loophole that allows automakers to buy credits from competitors to avoid fines, which could be widened or extended. be.
Electric vehicles accounted for 18% of sales from January to October. This is below the headline 22% ZEV mandate standard, but roughly in line with what they should be doing once loopholes are taken into account.
According to sales data from the Automobile Manufacturers and Trade Association, full hybrid sales accounted for 13.5% of car sales, and plug-in hybrid sales accounted for 8.4% of car sales.
