A consultation on phasing out new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 has been launched.
The government says this will “restore clarity” to vehicle manufacturers and the charging industry.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is seeking industry views from automotive and charging experts on how to deliver Labour’s manifesto commitment to restore the 2030 deadline.
It was extended to 2035 under the previous Conservative government.
The move comes amid a dispute between the government and the industry over the phasing out of sales of new petrol and diesel cars.
Last month, Ford said the UK government’s order to produce and sell more electric vehicles (EVs). “Just Doesn’t Work” Without Demand.
Lisa Brenkin, chair and managing director of Ford UK, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “One thing we really need is government support to increase the uptake of electric vehicles urgently. privileged.”
The transport secretary said the automotive industry had been “suffocated by a lack of confidence and direction” over the past few years.
“This government will change that,” he added.
The consultation proposes updates to the Zero Emission Vehicle (Zev) mandate, which sets out the percentage of new zero-emission vehicles and vans that manufacturers will need to sell each year until 2030.
More than two-thirds of car manufacturers in the UK, including Stellenbosch, have committed to switching to fully electric cars by this year.
However, firms have also announced thousands of job cuts. Partly because of EV targets.
The Department for Transport said the consultation would “restore clarity to vehicle manufacturers and the charging industry” to give them “the confidence to invest long-term in the UK and drive growth in the UK automotive industry”.
The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit think tank said Britain would meet its targets because the mandate took into account credits from the sale of low-emission hybrid petrol and diesel vehicles, as well as fully electric vehicles.
According to the think tank, the 22 percent each manufacturer needs to achieve is to reach the industry average.
Ms Alexander said that last month, one in four cars sold in the UK were EVs, with drivers “already adopting EVs faster than ever”.
“Today’s actions will help us support thousands of jobs, make the UK a clean energy superpower, and leverage the clean energy transition to rebuild Britain,” he added.
The government said the consultation would also be part of a “broader push” to make charging electric cars easier and cheaper.
There are now more than 72,000 public charging points in the UK, with a further 100,000 planned by local authorities across England.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the automotive industry body, said the automotive industry had welcomed the government’s “end of sale date for petrol or diesel-only cars and potential flexibility around it”. What are the welcome changes is the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate”.
“These are both significant issues for an industry facing significant challenges globally as it seeks to decarbonise ahead of natural market demand,” he added.
Mr Hawes said: “With the 2025 market facing even greater pressure, it is imperative that we get solutions quickly, with a clear intention to adopt regulation to support delivery, which with bold incentives to stimulate demand,” said Mr Hawes.