Feb 06 2020 16 mins 63
The government, in yet another attempt to look like they’re on top of the green agenda, has just bought forward its ban on all diesel, petrol and hybrid cars to 2035. From that date, you will only be allowed to buy electric or hydrogen vehicles. Our wise central-planners reckon those gas-guzzling, polluting SUVs we all like so much will be banished from the road, and all those petrol stations will be replaced with sleek charging stations. But the state has a terrible record of telling us what to drive. It is only a few years since it used tax policy to get us all to buy diesels and no one needs to be reminded how that worked out. It was later discredited and severely damaged the market for second-hand diesels. The subsidies fuelled a rise in diesel cars, increasing air pollution. How we get around is changing at lightning speed – but it would be better to let consumers shape that future instead of the state trying to dictate it. Or would it? Joining the IEA's Darren Grimes to discuss is the IEA’s Dr Richard Wellings, Head of Transport at the IEA.
