Labour Warns Hybrid Car Sale Ban Critical by 2030

The UK Labour Party's Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander warned that failing to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel hybrid cars by 2030 would be 'frankly disastrous' for the transition to electric vehicles (EVs). Experts emphasize that including hybrids in the zero-emission vehicle definition could undermine the goal of increasing fully electric vehicle adoption. Meanwhile, UK companies are increasingly adopting electric vehicle salary sacrifice schemes as a response to rising National Insurance taxes, with significant interest noted from businesses seeking to offset costs. Thom Groot, CEO of The Electric Car Scheme, reported a surge in interest for EVs as companies look to mitigate financial impacts from tax hikes. The trend towards EVs is further supported by the second-hand market becoming more active, as companies explore cost-effective options for employees. Overall, these developments indicate a growing momentum towards electric vehicles in the UK amidst changing tax policies and regulatory pressures.