UK to ban sales of diesel, petrol-powered cars by 2035

The United Kingdom has brought forward the date projected for its ban on the sales of new petrol and diesel-powered vehicles from 2040 to 2035.

Boris Johnson, UK prime minister, unveiled the policy on Tuesday as part of the launch of UN’s 2019 climate summit (COP26) towards achieving its target of zero carbon emission by 2050.

The impending ban, which is to come 15 years from now, implies that prospective motorists will only be able to purchase electric or hydrogen propelled cars or vans in the UK.

According to Johnson, the decision to move the date will hasten the UK’s plan to tackle air pollution and stop people’s lungs from being clogged up with harmful exhaust particles.

“As we set out our plans to hit our ambitious 2050 net-zero target across this year, so we shall urge others to join us in pledging net-zero emissions,” the prime minister said.

“Hosting COP26 is an important opportunity for the UK and nations across the globe to step up in the fight against climate change.

“As we set out our plans to hit our ambitious 2050 net-zero target across this year, so we shall urge others to join us in pledging net zero emissions.

“2020 must be the year we turn the tide on global warming — it will be the year when we choose a cleaner, greener future for all.”

While the UK’s change of plans would be subject to consultations, the move comes after experts warned that the previous 2040 target would still clutter roads with old petrol-powered vehicles.

The COP26 summit, which is an annual UN-led gathering aimed at assessing the progress towards tackling climate change, will hold in Glasgow, in November.

TheCable had earlier reported how students of the University of Nsukka (UNN) came through with Nigeria’s first locally manufactured electric vehicle christened Lion Ozumba 551.

In 2019, Ben Murray-Bruce, a former senator who represented Bayelsa east, had also withdrawn a bill seeking to phase out petrol cars and introduce electric vehicles by 2035.

He had thereafter accused his colleagues of being “stone age” individuals who are unable to function in the 21st century, after having rejected the bill he sponsored on electric cars.

“We will end up being the dumping ground because the world is moving in one direction but the Nigerian senate is moving in the opposite,” Bruce said while sharing a clip of himself riding an electric car.

“You replace your petrol station with solar-powered charging stations. Anytime you want to charge your car, you go to the gas station, and you charge. Nigeria spends over a trillion naira every year subsidizing petrol.

“If they listen to me, they will be cautious about what we have and what we can benefit from this technology. If they don’t, they will be left behind and Nigeria will be a third world country forever.”