The benefits of the latest combustion engines should not be overlooked in the rush to promote electrified powertrains, Mike Hawes, chairman of the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) has warned.
While acknowledging the dramatic growth in registrations for hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric cars in 2017, with figures rising more than 130%, Hawes cautioned that they still represented less than 5% of the total market, suggesting that a transitional period is required.
"The growth in alternatively fuelled registrations is a huge positive, and we need to be at the forefront of new technologies and push hard to be leaders there, but any action needs to be conducted in a sustainable way that takes the consumer and legislation with it,” said Hawes.
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"The UK is renowned for its combustion engine technology - at its most extreme, in Formula 1, where the world's most efficient engine is produced in the UK - and it would be crazy to throw that know-how away in a mad dash given the levels of consumer acceptance at the moment. The demand for the alternatives is not on the same level today, and needs to be built in a sustainable fashion."
The Government is proposing to move its grant scheme for electrified vehicles to support battery-electric vehicles only, despite that sector of the market representing less than 1% of the market.
In addition, Hawes said that the SMMT is pushing for UK cities to adopt a uniform approach to creating low emission zones. While individual cities have individual powers to set limits, Hawes said that a “patchwork of regulations” that varied from city to city would damage consumer confidence in the right technologies to purchase, which he argued includes the latest petrol and diesel engines.
Hawes also highlighted that the adoption of the latest, Euro 6 compliant combustion engine technology on some bus routes in London had been proven to dramatically reduce localised pollution levels in recent weeks.
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The SMMT is talking perfect
The SMMT is talking perfect sense - there isnt the production capacity, the range of vehicles, the infrastructure, or enough used electric vehicles for eveyone to switch to electrc overnight, anyone who cant see that is plain stupid. Like it or not both petrol and diesel ICE engined vehicles WILL play a significant but decreasing role in transport over the next 20 years., period. And thr reactionary, kneejerk reaction against the diesel is already causing CO2 outputs to rise.
Of course
"the range of vehicles, the infrastructure, or enough used electric vehicles for eveyone to switch to electrc overnight," that's just stating the obvious and no-one, me included, is saying that will happen. Norway is still 'only' 1 in 4 new cars electric
Do what?
"The benefits of the latest combustion engines should not be overlooked in the rush to promote electrified powertrains"
What exactly is he suggesting? That electric cars shouldn't be so heavily promoted because some of the current ICE units are really good?
Seriously? If people want to buy electric cars or hybrids then let them, what difference does it make to the SMMT what kind of car people want? Oh I remember, it's because the industry likes to tell us what to buy to ensure we always "want" the profitable cars that the industry already makes...
Heaven forbid we want something (electric, long driving range, super fast charging, very sporty please) that they might need to invest some money in to bring to market. Where will it all end?
Surprise Surprise
It's like the SMMT think of everyting!