More than half of UK drivers have voted to ban diesel cars from cities…are electric cars the future?

Almost three-quarters of motorists also think toxic air in their area is damaging their health

The momentum behind the shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) is now clearer than ever. The UK Government’s announcement to stop all sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2040 is the latest in a string of high-profile policy decisions in recent months.

As a result, sales of diesel vehicles are plummeting in the UK. More than half of UK motorists think diesel cars should be banned from urban areas due to air pollution concerns, according to a new opinion poll.

The proportion backing a ban rose to 80% when drivers were asked if diesel cars should be excluded areas around schools and hospitals. Nearly a third said diesels should be banned from all roads.

New government figures published in July estimated that between 28,000 and 36,000 people die early each year in the UK due to air pollution, which was declared a public health emergency by a cross-party committee of MPs. Most urban areas in the UK have since 2010 had illegally high levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx), emitted by diesel vehicles.

The government has been defeated three times in the court over the inadequacy of its plans, and the latest version in 2017 was condemned as “woefully inadequate” by city leaders and “inexcusable” by doctors.

Sales of diesel vehicles are plummeting in the UK, with July data showing a 30% plunge in 2018 so far. Drivers are concerned about air pollution and fear future restrictions on diesel use, such as the £10 surcharge now being levied on older polluting vehicles entering central London.

Some of the very latest diesel models produce very low NOx emissions. But many still on sale are highly polluting, with the worst producing 15 times more toxic gas on the road than the official lab-based limit and creating a “nightmare” for buyers, according to experts.

The new poll shows the public have little faith in diesel cars, with 70% of drivers believing they were were “mis-sold” as clean, and three-quarters saying regulators should be given powers to take cars off the road immediately if they fail newly introduced on-the-road emissions tests

Morten Thaysen, clean air campaigner at Greenpeace, said: “Diesel cars have been fuelling a major air pollution crisis that has made our cities’ air toxic and harmful to breathe. We need a rapid switch to electric by the car industry to help clean up our air and protect our climate.”

In order to meet legislative, consumer and business demands, charging points must be situated in parking areas which are both publicly and privately owned. For example, people will want to plug in their cars while they are at work, or on a day trip, as well as when they are at home.

This has resulted in a degree of ambiguity around who should be responsible for putting these charging points in place, and the appropriate pricing structure. Therefore, this requires councils, businesses and other stakeholders working together, investing to develop comprehensive infrastructure across the length and breadth of the country.

As a BID we are working on protecting local air quality and installing electrical charging points is a vital part of this remit. A holistic approach to the issue of pollution is necessary; green infrastructure and cleaner vehicles must be paired with raising awareness and changing behaviour. We have the huge levels of traffic and major construction projects that make this a mammoth challenge, but we also have the natural and beautiful assets that make it possible.

Please get in touch with us if you own land or are leasing for a minimum of 8 years and you’re looking to protect local air quality. If so, you will be able to apply for installing an Electric Vehicle rapid charging point.