The Future of UK Roads: Petrol and Diesel Cars Set to Disappear
Petrol and diesel vehicles are steadily vanishing from UK roads, with experts predicting their eventual disappearance as environmental policies take hold. The transition toward zero-emission transportation is being driven by new government mandates and changing consumer preferences, signaling a significant shift in the automotive landscape.
Pod Point, a prominent electric vehicle (EV) charging provider, forecasts that internal combustion engine (ICE) cars will gradually become a rare sight on UK streets. While there are no immediate plans to enforce a mandatory replacement of existing petrol and diesel vehicles, new models powered by traditional fuel are set to be phased out. Current legislation aims to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035. However, the Labour government has expressed interest in accelerating this deadline to 2030, making the transition to electric mobility even more urgent.
Market trends suggest that consumer demand for petrol and diesel vehicles is declining. Research by Cox Automotive predicts that diesel cars will make up just 3% of the market in the near future, with petrol vehicles shrinking to a 35% share by 2028. Simultaneously, EV adoption is skyrocketing, with projected sales of 2.3 million units by 2028—an increase of 160% compared to recent years. This rapid shift underscores the growing appeal of electric cars as infrastructure improves and zero-emission technologies become more accessible.
The UK’s Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) mandate is a driving force behind this transformation. Automakers are now required to ensure that a certain percentage of their sales are electric, starting with a 28% target in 2024 and rising to 80% by the end of the decade. Manufacturers face steep penalties of £15,000 per non-compliant car, pushing many to adopt aggressive pricing strategies for EVs to meet these quotas. These policies are reshaping the industry, compelling brands to prioritize electric models over traditional options.
While the shift to EVs is well underway, challenges remain. Concerns about affordability, infrastructure, and consumer readiness linger, but the direction is clear: petrol and diesel cars are slowly fading into history. As the UK embraces greener transportation, the roads of tomorrow promise to be quieter, cleaner, and powered by innovation.