In an effort to reduce air pollution and its health-related side effects, the UK plans to ban the sale and use of petrol and diesel powered vehicles by 2040. Alongside France and Norway, the UK will be the third country to suggest the eventual removal of petrol/diesel vehicles from their roads.
The ban of petrol and diesel powered vehicles will dramatically reduce emissions into the atmosphere. However, it is predicted that the demand for electricity will be higher than it has ever been, with an increase of around 50% in Britain. With a large increase in vehicle charging, power companies may have to take steps to improve their services.
Many car manufacturers have already expressed their intention to focus more on electric vehicles in the future. Recently, Volvo stated that by 2019, all their new vehicles will be electric.
Electric Cars in New Zealand
In New Zealand, no plans have been made to ban petrol or diesel vehicles in the near future. However, as electric vehicles improve in price and performance, we can expect their popularity to rise significantly in the future.
In May 2016, the NZ Government announced an electric vehicle program, which aims to increase the amount of electric or low-emission vehicles on our roads. On July 1st 2017, registration costs were significantly reduced for electric vehicles in New Zealand. This was done to encourage drivers to switch over to more fuel efficient vehicles.
Currently, the lack of vehicle options and and the limited battery capacity are two factors that are stopping people from buying EVs. However, the technology for these vehicles is improving all the time, with newer models offering battery capacity that rivals petrol vehicles. As the technology improves, we will see a rising number of car manufacturers start to produce electric models, providing a much larger array of options.
If petrol prices continue to rise, electric vehicles will offer New Zealanders a much more cost-efficient option. The running cost of an electric vehicle is around 30 cents per litre (about 17% of a petrol vehicle’s running costs).
An increase in electric vehicles will change the way that mechanics service cars. This is because electric vehicles require different equipment and training to standard petrol vehicles. At Grimmer Motors, we are already investing in tools and diagnostic equipment for electric and hybrid cars, allowing our workshop to prepare for imminent changes in the automotive industry.