The government has been scrutinised over the details of its plan to phase out the sale of new conventional petrol and diesel automobiles by 2030 and new hybrids by 2035, with a committee of MPs saying a lot more thought needs to be put into the price of new electric cars, their availability on the used market, the accessibility of public charging infrastructure and the effect of their production on carbon emissions.
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The house of Commons Public Accounts committee (PAC), which examines the value-for-money of government projects, has said in a new report that going from 11 per cent of new automobiles registered being fully electric in 2020 to 100 per cent by 2035 is a “huge challenge” for which the government lacks a plan.

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The PAC’s report calls on the government to set out its plans for managing the “complex transition” to electric cars, ensuring progress can be checked against it and giving regular updates.
The up-front new prices of electric automobiles are “too high” for lots of people in comparison to petrol or diesel equivalents, the PAC says, while additionally research is also recommended into running costs.
The PAC says the department for carry (DfT) has made a “series of assumptions” about journey types and EV charging behaviours. These include 99 per cent of journeys being less than 100 miles, the huge majority of EV charging taking place at home and at night-time, and people using public charging infrastructure on longer trips.