Motor industry blows fuse over electric target

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which represents the industry, warned: “Outright bans risk undermining the current market for new cars and our sector, which supports over 800,000 jobs across the UK, so the industry instead wants a positive approach which gives consumers incentives to purchase these cars.”

Sources in the industry, a bright spot of the economy, also questioned whether the goal was new, claiming targets are already in place for zero emissions by 2040.

Hawes added: “The UK Government’s climate change ambitions have always sought to phase out internal combustion engines, potentially from around 2040.”

Under the proposals, it is thought local authorities would be able to charge levies on drivers of diesel vehicles on the most polluted roads from 2020 if air quality does not improve.

But the plans have been met with scepticism by Britain’s carmakers.

Vauxhall said: “This is all about the car but we should be looking at this in the round. We are a relatively small part of a larger problem. Air quality is affected by trucks, taxis, air conditioning systems and stoves.

“We need a new national framework for the country not local authorities setting different random levies. This system could mean each city doing something different and it will be just a mess.”

It is also expected hybrid vehicles that have an electric motor combined with a petrol or diesel engine would be affected by this plan.

The government has been under pressure to take measures to reduce air pollution after losing legal cases brought by campaign groups. The move follows a similar announcement by France this month.

But Hawes warned: “Much depends on… how willing consumers are to adopt battery, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen cars. Currently demand for alternatively fuelled vehicles is growing but still at a very low level.”

Nissan, Britain’s second-largest carmaker behind Jaguar Land Rover, could be a big winner. It claims to have sold more electric vehicles than any other in the world and has a high-tech battery plant in Sunderland.

“We welcome any plans that encourage people to switch to low or zero-emission vehicles,” it said.

“The electric revolution is happening. This will have a fundamental impact on the shift from fossil fuels to renewables.”