Leaders within the car industry have expressed their opinion that it is increasingly improbable that the government's plan to discontinue the sale of vehicles powered by combustion engines by 2030 will be met in a timely manner.

With the cut-off date for all new car sales to be electric by 2030 fast-approaching - hybrids are given an extra five years till 2035 - heads of car dealers have expressed their worries that these objectives may not be achievable.

Robert Forrester, CEO of Vertu Motors, voiced his opinion on Twitter, stating that he had come to the realization that something was indeed very real.

He suggested that the prohibition of ICE vehicles in the United Kingdom by 2030 may have to be delayed by either five or 10 years.

The timing is certain; it is only a matter of when.

At the Car Dealer Live conference, a few days prior to Forrester's audacious declaration, the heads of car dealerships and auto makers had expressed similar apprehensions.

A group of motoring industry professionals were polled as to whether they believed the 2030 target was attainable, and two-thirds of those who voted responded that they did not think so.

A number of presenters took turns discussing the 2030 goal from the stage.

Paul Hendy, CEO of south coast Hendy Group, which has a turnover close to £1bn, described the ban as an unstoppable "train hurtling towards us" that would take a powerful effort to decelerate.

He mentioned to the crowd that it wouldn't be this present administration that would complete the task by 2030.

To be honest, it will be hard to find the necessary infrastructure. Certain cities may have it, but it is doubtful. Who will be courageous enough to take a stand against it?

He was not alone in his worrying about the prohibition that will take effect in only seven years.

At the conference, Neil McCue, the Chief Operating Officer of Snows Motor Group, declared that he could not envision the government adhering to its deadline of 2030.

He questioned, "How could people charge in the city I live in? There are some chargers available, but not enough. It's hard for me to understand how this could be feasible."

Millions of dollars are being put into our facilities and I'm not sure how successful it will be. We are far from achieving the government's desired objective.

Powering Up

The authorities recently declared their intention to invest £56m in a fresh batch of public chargers. This would cover almost 2,400 points, however, this is just a small fraction of the total amount that is needed.

It is suggested by specialists that the UK must have at least 300,000 public chargers by 2030 to meet the expectation. However, records from the end of January 2023 show there are only 37,851 points spread across 22,000 sites.

The rate of growth has risen 31 percent in the past 12 months, yet it is not nearly quick enough to meet the ambitious objectives of the government.

It is regularly asserted by the EV sector that the majority of people refuel their vehicles at home; however, the public has a strong recollection of long lines of vehicles at public charging stations in news publications during the festive holiday season.

The Budget this week did not include any details on assistance for charging points.

Mike Hawes of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has urged the government to provide more effective and cost-efficient charging solutions for everyone.

However, when asked if the trade body anticipated any delay in the ban, the spokesperson declined to comment on 'speculation'.

The SMMT is aware that the automotive sector needs to be informed as soon as possible if the current route is to be altered.

John O'Hanlon, the CEO of Waylands Automotive, informed the listeners of Car Dealer Live that he had the privilege of dining at the House of Lords with a few influential individuals and they were in unanimous agreement that the EV goal of 2030 was definite.

At night's conclusion, maybe after a bit too much wine, they were talking about shooting for the stars and possibly surpassing the roof. I was endeavoring to share my point. The producers are concocting strategies and it's becoming increasingly difficult for them to alter them.

Goodman, the head of Polestar, the electric car company, opines that the government is not making a real effort to achieve its goal.

At Car Dealer Live, he proclaimed to the crowd that he did not believe they were doing enough.

It won't be long before 2030 arrives, and that means manufacturers are already looking ahead to tomorrow. It takes approximately seven years to develop a car.

According to Goodman, the lack of quick implementation of charging points is the greatest challenge in achieving the 2030 aim.

He emphasized that, even though charging points are being installed quickly, it still needs to be accelerated.

Dale Wyatt, director of Suzuki GB, supposes that no matter which party is in charge, they will delay the prohibition.

He expressed his opinion that a shift in government could possibly happen before 2030 and that the occurrences of the time would dictate how significant the 2030 timeline was taken.

It appears to me that we are on a path that is leading us to a goal, however, I believe it will take more time than expected.

A considerable segment of the electric car trade is now commanded by Chinese marque MG, who have put their MG4 EVs into circulation through their 155 dealerships nationwide.

During Car Dealer Live, commercial director Guy Pigounakis expressed that he believes the roadmap to 2030 is stable - at least for the present time.

The government is well behind in providing for the infrastructure for the installation of either 300,000 or two million charging points by 2030, something he identified as the 'breaker', he said.

The Duke of Richmond, who is responsible for the organisation of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, believes that the goal of 2030 might be "challenging to reach".

In an interview with the PA media agency, the speaker posed the question: 'Will we be able to generate enough renewable energy to power all these cars by the given timeframe?'

Can we construct the necessary structures to provide power to everyone? That appears challenging to me.

His Grace voiced his doubts that the UK's charging infrastructure would be equipped to reach their 2030 goal and expressed his worries that the administration was not doing enough to support the automotive industry.

He expressed that the industry was not receiving the backing it deserved, noting its importance.

A Desire for Transformation

Editor of Electrifying.com, Tom Barnard, expressed to Car Dealer his opinion that it would be 'crazy' to alter the date of the ban as he believes it is already too late to do so.

He informed Car Dealer that car manufacturers have a track record of opposing laws that would require them to pay out, even if the overall outcome would be beneficial.

Reflect on CFCs in air conditioning, lead in gas, catalysts, and asbestos brakes. Adaptation and progression are not easy, but they make it happen. It would be absurd to go back to the past.

Barnard declared that it would not be reasonable for those who are behind schedule to extend the deadline, but he is of the opinion that hybrids could be the industry's savior.

A possible solution to the issue could be found by exploiting a major loophole. The cut-off date for PHEVs has been set as 2035, meaning there is more than a decade of time left.

Manufacturers who still desire to make use of internal combustion engines, and those who need them, have been granted a reprieve of five years after the ban. This is assuming they've incorporated a plug and a battery into their design.

Jim Holder, the editorial director of What Car?, said that he does not think the 2030 deadline will be postponed. He noted that, even though the idea of a 2030 deadline was initially a political decision, it has received support from both sides of the aisle for a long time now, and additional groups and countries have agreed to the same target.

It would be damaging to any political party to be viewed as not in favour of the environmentally focused agenda as it is seen to be of great importance.

The popularity of new electric vehicles has been rising significantly. In February, EVs represented 18.2 percent of all new car sales.

The SMMT is expecting an increase in registrations of plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles up until 2023, with an estimated 488,000 vehicles joining Britain's roads.

2023 is set to witness the introduction of over 40 new plug-in electric models by companies, giving consumers a vast selection to choose from.

The SMMT noted that, while the new £56 million funding for new charge points is appreciated, there is still a need for binding targets that guarantee chargepoint rollout keeps up with the augmented demand for charging infrastructure.

The values of electric vehicles in the secondary market are in a steady decline.

In February, following Tesla's price drop in January, there was a 7.7 per cent decrease in the cost of used electric vehicles compared to the previous month.

Different opinions exist concerning the cause of the increasing supply of electric vehicles (EVs) in the used marketplace; some attribute it to increasing energy costs and battery charging issues, while others simply believe that more EVs are being released.

Cap HPI reported to Car Dealer magazine that the Tesla Model 3 has experienced a decrease of four percent (£1,325) in its values for February, with an additional drop of over 10% in January. This is equivalent to a total decrease of greater than £5,000 in the past two months and an approximate decrease of £12,000 in the past four months.

Derren Martin, who is in charge of valuations, claimed that this situation has caused dealers to sell off their EV inventory and many are refusing to purchase any more.

Nigel Hurley, the CEO of CarShop, declared to the Car Dealer Live gathering that his expansive car dealership chain is currently not going to purchase any electric vehicles unless they are offered at a very low cost.

He expressed that his firm would rather remain in a holding pattern to observe what occurs with the fall in prices.

The German and Italian governments raised a great deal of opposition to the 2035 ban proposed in Europe, prompting a key vote to be postponed earlier this month.

The Italian government expressed vehement opposition to the law, demanding the European Commission alter its stance and come up with environmentally friendly alternatives if it wished to be supported.

Conversely, the Cecra (European Council for Motor Trades and Repairs) has suggested that the discussion regarding the expiration of combustion engines is far from finished.

It is undeniable that the auto industry has done its utmost to reach the goal.

Every month, there appears to be a new electric car introduction, and the UK will experience a surge in the variety of Chinese brands' battery-powered autos.

Industry authorities are emphatic that the availability of charging resources must grow with the sales, or else the government will have to take action on the 2030 cutoff.

The Department for Transport stated to Car Dealer that they are firmly dedicated to eliminating the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, and all new cars and vans should have zero emissions at the tailpipe by 2035.

The idea of ​​recycling has become increasingly popular in recent years, with many people recognizing the importance of preserving the environment by reducing, reusing, and recycling materials.

In recent times, the concept of recycling has gained much attention, as people are realizing the significance of protecting the environment by cutting back on resources, utilizing what is already accessible, and recycling materials.