Congratulation Dawn Simpson on passing your driving test with Peter Skelton Driving School. After your sister Issy learned with me many years ago, you started lessons soon after and then took a break. Then deciding to come back to lessons, you started learning again, this time with my instructor Cathy. Well done for passing on your first attempt.
MPs have warned that the UK Government must put more effort into overcoming the ‘huge challenge’ of forbidding the sale of new petrol and diesel road vehicles by the forecast deadline in 2030.
A report by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has detailed that the main obstacles to achieving this goal – including its pledge for all newly made cars to be zero-emissions by 2035 – include the manufacturing costs of electric vehicles and the demand for more charge points nationwide. Nearly 11% of new motors sold in the last year are classified as ‘ultra-low emission’, which is up by 3% from 2019. However, the PAC report urges the Government to address why they have ‘not yet published a clear plan’ to raise this to 100% by the prescribed dates.
While The Society of Manufacturers and Traders has conceded that 26 new charge points are being installed every day, this actually needs to rise to 507 a day to achieve the deadline. The committee have also noted that the price of new EVs is currently unsuitable for widespread appeal, as there are only 13 models under £30,000. They have said that the Government should address this issue of cost, especially as up-front costs for EVs can be £5000 more than conventionally fuelled models.
Perhaps driving instructors in Newbury should look into teaching in greener vehicles as a way of encouraging learners to go green. With high demand, the Government will be forced to invest more money into accommodating a conscientious public.