Scotland pushes back new petrol and diesel cars sales ban to 2032

Scottish government worries that the price to run an EV is too high after the year we’ve just had.

The Scottish government has announced that they have decided to delay the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars until 2032.

Energy Secretary Michael Matheson informed members of parliament at Holyrood that the decision was made due to concerns about the slow progress of the country’s charging infrastructure and the high cost of running an electric vehicle.

The average cost of EV fast-charging has risen dramatically over the last few months, which has contributed to the decision to delay the ban. The high cost of running an electric vehicle, coupled with the slow progress of the country’s charging infrastructure, led to the previous 2030 target of phasing out combustion-powered vehicles being deemed not viable.

This latest decision is part of a new 194-page document outlining Scotland’s decarbonization plans, which include a focus on renewable energy and the elimination of fossil fuels, as well as the creation of thousands of jobs across the country.

This decision contrasts with the rest of the UK, which is still committed to banning the sale of new pure-combustion cars by the end of the decade and phasing out hybrids by 2035, as it works towards a legal target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

Despite this delay, the government remains committed to promoting clean and sustainable transportation for the benefit of the environment and the public.

While charge points seem rather scarce in current times, it’s hard to imagine that in 7 years’ time, our whole country will be fit to phase into a world of strictly EVs – but do we think that Scotland’s delays will influence more UK government decisions? We doubt it. Sorry, petrolheads.