The End Of ICE?

Time flies, usually when you least want it to. That brand new car purchased not so long ago is starting to look its age; that’s life. What we don’t need is outside interference, yet it is something we are resigned to getting and that’s never more true than when it comes to cars. There are more rules than you shake a torque wrench at and we have to comply; that’s why it is always best to ensure your car is professionally maintained by a reliable and trustworthy local car servicing garage. Saves time and money in the long run.

There’s More To Come

As things stand right now, (and yes, things can change in short order sometimes we hope, as policy could change in the meantime), from the year 2030, none of us will be able to buy a brand-new pure petrol or diesel car and just 5 years after that we won’t be able to buy new hybrids either. It’s all about zero emissions from cars. Now, this post is not about the rights and wrongs of this situation; that’s for others to haggle over, but the fact is the zero-emissions shift is coming and no one gets a free pass. It’s going to be electric or nothing; some are already convinced and are buying into this; others aren’t so sure. We’ll see.

Banned!

The 2030 UK-wide ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans is a hard cut-off line for the internal combustion engine (ICE). Damp hankies in hand, we will watch teary eyed as our ICE cars wear out and eventually get retired. Fortunately, this won’t happen overnight. We will still be able to drive our lovely ICE cars for as long as they remain roadworthy and second-hand vehicles should still be available. ICE cars could last even longer if there’s a full service history and the car has been properly MOT tested.So What’s The Future?

But what does the ban mean for the used car market? Well, 2030 isn’t the end. Given that modern motors last between sixteen and twenty years from new means there might still be a fairly healthy second-hand market for years after 2030. Small volume car makers (those with very low sales volumes) may be exempt from the 2030 ban, due to the cost and difficulty of switching to electric drive but they’ve got to emit very low CO². For example, a low volume, luxury car manufacturer like Rolls Royce is likely to be exempt from the 2030 diesel/petrol car ban but even this automotive legend is soon to announce a fully electric Roller. Business users will also still be possible to buy new ICE vans (petrol, diesel, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid) after the 2030 date up until 2035.

Perceptions of petrol and diesel cars are shifting it has to be said. This is already affecting pricing. As some buyers favour electric vehicles, older petrol and diesel models, especially higher-emission vehicles, face a growing risk higher taxation and depreciation, meaning their resale values could drop more quickly than they have in the past.

Are We Motorists Ready?Consumer awareness is higher than ever, with many buyers already considering electric vehicles (EVs) as practical alternatives rather than simply being niche options. Meanwhile, manufacturers are preparing models that meet the so-called ‘Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate’, ensuring a supply of compliant cars. Buyers too seem have got their heads around the issue so hopefully both the motoring public and the industry are far better equipped to make the switch more smoothly than they were just a few years ago. The hope is that growing EV adoption and shifting consumer habits will mean the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars feels evolutionary, not disruptive.

ICE Will keep Going

In the short to medium term, petrol and diesel cars are likely to retain some appeal as many drivers like that pure, mechanical experience rather than software control and the uncertainty of electric longevity. ICE vehicles are familiar, offer high performance, and crucially boast solid range, an important if travelling in rural areas where there’s limited charging infrastructure, for example. Those based in the countryside may feel ICE vehicles are better suited to their needs.

Some will keep ICE vehicles on the road and continue buying and selling them. The sound of a well-tuned engine, the engineering and the sure knowledge that there are professional technicians out there who know how to correctly service and maintain will mean the death knell of ICE is surely still a long way off. Will we keep those old cars going?

Looking to the future, keeping a petrol, diesel or hybrid in good working order through professional car servicing will mean that the final decision is still a long way off.