Battery Electric Cars To Beat Diesels By 2030

Battery electric cars are on track to outnumber diesel cars on Great Britain’s roads by 2030, according to a new analysis — and London looks set to be the first UK city to stop registering diesels altogether. The report finds diesel car numbers fell to about 9.9 million in June last year, down roughly 21% from a peak of 12.4 million. Electric vehicle sales continue to climb, although not as fast as manufacturers once hoped. Still, diesel car sales have crashed — fewer than 100,000 were sold in the first 11 months of 2025 — and many older diesel models are simply now reaching the end of their road. Despite the march of electrification, battery cars remain a small slice of the fleet. Last year they accounted for only 4% of cars on Britain’s roads, while diesel made up about 32%, petrol 58% and hybrids roughly 6%, according to industry figures. That mix helps explain why diesel deaths won’t vanish overnight: cars bought during diesel’s heyday are only now being retired. Vans tell a different story. The number of diesel vans hit a record 4.4 million and has kept rising, so the commercial vehicle fleet is lagging behind cars in the switch to zero-emission powertrains. The analysis suggests new diesel van sales probably peaked before the pandemic, so a fall should follow — but it will take time. Public health and reputational hits have also nudged the shift. The 2015 Volkswagen emissions scandal — when software was used to cheat lab tests — cost the company tens of billions and prompted fresh scrutiny of diesel pollution. Recent work has linked extra emissions from such defeat devices to thousands of premature deaths and cases of asthma. City policies are accelerating change. London’s ultra-low emission zone is pushing out higher-polluting vehicles, and low-emission zones in places such as Edinburgh and Glasgow are having a similar effect. Analysts note a secondary market has emerged: many urban drivers are selling their diesels on to buyers in rural areas, a reminder the transition will be uneven across the country. The shift could reshape forecourts and fuel imports. As diesels leave the fleet, some petrol stations may stop offering diesel at all, and the UK’s bill for imported diesel — currently running into billions — should shrink. The bottom line from the report’s authors: diesel has played its part, but Britain is moving on to a cleaner era — albeit at different speeds for cars and vans. --- Managing your business finances? TaxAce provides smart online accountancy services for UK businesses with flexible monthly plans. Image and reporting: https://www.theguardian.com | Read original article