With the 2030 ICE Ban looking to be put back in motion, the UK government and EV industry has little more than five years to gear up for the change.
Previously delayed until 2035 by the previous government, the EV industry’s ability to efficiently prepare for an EV future has been stifled by a lack of clear messaging and clarity from government, including whether hybrid vehicles fell under the ban.
However, Labour’s plans to realign with the 2030 target has provided a clearer sense of direction and greater transparency on the whether hybrid vehicles will be included, albeit with a renewed sense of urgency. With this, vehicle manufacturers, charging businesses, and other stakeholders in the EV industry can finally better identify areas of focus, and bolster efforts to make the integration of the ICE Ban achievable.
According to a recent report from intelligence firm Rho Motion, car manufacturers sold 1.7 million plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles globally in September 2024, breaking a previous record set in December 2023. This shows that there is no lack of an appetite for EVs, but continuously bolstering increased uptake is essential. Switching to EVs will not only be beneficial for decarbonisation, but also make driving cheaper in the long run.
The responsibility to foster this uptake of course doesn’t just fall on the EV industry’s shoulders and there are actions the Labour government can take too to ensure the UK economy, and by extension, consumers, have the resilience to face the impacts of the new legislation.
The role of Hybrids in the EV transition
Labour’s announcement that some hybrid vehicles would continue to be sold until 2035, avoiding the 2030 ICE ban, has been met with some criticism. If one were being overly critical, one could say that excluding hybrids from the 2030 ban is “watering down” steps towards decarbonisation.
However, more realistically, this should be seen as a positive step towards an EV future. Many consumers still lack the confidence to buy an EV. A resistance to make this transition could delay the phasing out of combustion only cars. As the UK journeys beyond early adopters to mass market adoption, plug-in hybrid vehicles could offer an accessible entry point for many to understand what switching to a 100% EV could look like. With a continuously increased minimum range on electric mode, people will realise that they can easily cover their driving on EV mode only, reducing range anxiety.
Hybrid can be a positive stepping stone for people to realise why EVs are a better choice. For example, with making the full switch, one does not have to maintain two forms of propulsion, with both a battery and motor having higher chances of things going wrong.
Building the UK’s EV Infrastructure
Another concern aired is whether the infrastructure will be there to meet the demand driven by this legislation. Despite the popular narrative that the rollout of charging points is falling short of where it needs to be, current figures suggest that by 2030, the UK should be in a good position to support an EV future.
At the end of August 2024, there were 68,273 public EV charge points in the UK, which is a 41% year-on-year increase from August 2023. This is in addition to home and workplace charge points, which is estimated at around 700,000. There is no doubt that these numbers will continue to rise with time, and we will likely be in a considerably better position by 2030.
Next steps for the Labour Government
As we move from a stage of early EV adoption to mass market adoption and a more cost-conscious consumer group, the Labour government should create incentives to encourage the transition to EVs. EV purchasing and home charging grants are proven methods to increase uptake. Norway for example, incentivised EV ownership through access to bus lanes and cheaper parking, alongside imposing higher taxes on petrol and diesel cars to make buying EVs relatively less expensive. As a result, the majority of new cars being purchased each month in Norway are now EVs. It proves that with the right set of incentives, people will make the switch. Following the success of other nations’ strategies, potential solutions the Labour government could consider include lowering the VAT on EV charging or the vehicles themselves.
Education and myth busting is another focus that the government should be looking to support. From conversations with people from outside the industry, Easee found that there is still a significant amount of misinformation circulating about the driving and charging of EVs, from batteries exploding and lack of range to using wrong and unsafe charging cables and gear. Research and numerous case studies have already proven that EVs are safer, more reliable and less likely to catch fire compared to ICE cars. Tackling misinformation will be key to growing consumers’ confidence in EVs. The Labour government should work in collaboration with the EV industry to myth bust and educate consumers.
Looking ahead
It is promising to see that the Labour government looks poised to make good on its manifesto and reinstate the 2030 ICE Ban. However, the government must support the EV industry in accelerating the EV transition, by incentivising and educating prospective EV users. This can be done by raising greater awareness around the benefits of using EVs and clearing any misconceptions consumers may have around EVs in general. Fostering a collaborative relationship with the EV industry to create maximum impact in a relatively short period of time.
Author: Adam Rodgers, UK Country Director, Easee
