According to the latest reports, the UK is considering postponing the ban on internal combustion engines by five years, pushing the deadline to 2035. An official announcement regarding this decision could be issued in the coming days.
While the European Union (EU) is set to ban the sale of new cars fitted with internal combustion engines by 2035, some countries have ambitions to transition even sooner. The UK had been among those countries, especially after its 2020 announcement by the then Prime Minister that the country would prohibit such engines five years ahead of the EU’s timeline. This commitment was reaffirmed earlier this year in July.
However, recent developments suggest a change in stance. The UK government is now purportedly re-evaluating its decision and leaning towards delaying the ban until 2035, aligning it with the EU’s timeframe. A formal announcement from the government is expected shortly.
As for the European Union, the initial plan has been adjusted this year, introducing an exemption for internal combustion engines powered by synthetic fuels. This change came about after Germany, along with seven other EU nations, rallied together in opposition to the original plan.
Despite the potential five-year delay in phasing out internal combustion engines, the UK remains steadfast in its goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
