MPs back calls to ensure that traditional fuels remain available for older cars – no matter what happens with other vehicles
Classic experts have welcomed MPs’ recommendations that petrol should remain available long after most road users have switched to electric vehicles.
The House of Commons’ Transport Committee made its recommendation as part of a wider report looking into the future of fuel availability, recognising that that there would still be many road users, including classic owners, who could use traditional fuels with a negligible impact on the environment even after the intended 2030 cutoff date for ending the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles.
The cross-party group of MPs said: ‘We believe that there is a case for many people right across the country in all areas, but particularly in rural and isolated communities, to continue to drive wholly diesel- or petrol-powered cars, or hybrids (or EVs if they wish).
Over time they will very likely account for a negligible proportion of transport emissions.
‘The cost of introducing EV charging infrastructure everywhere is unrealistic and will require massive amounts of taxpayers’ money through government subsidy for electricity generation, infrastructure provision and storage and basic raw materials for battery production in order to be anywhere near acceptable as an alternative to internal combustion engines or hybrid personal vehicles, delivery, farming or construction vehicles.’
The Historic Classic & Vehicle Alliance (HCVA) was among the organisations that contributed information to the committee’s work and argued that converting classics to zero emissions technology would waste more emissions than would be saved due to their very limited annual mileage.
Director, Guy Lachlan, said: ‘The HCVA is very pleased that this influential and respected cross-party committee agrees that the future of liquid fuels is essential for existing internal combustion-engined vehicles, including classics.
‘Our belief is that the use of modern liquid fuels, including synthetics, provides the most environmentally friendly solution for classic vehicles and retains their historical authenticity as important examples of our Industrial heritage.’
The Association of Heritage Engineers has also welcomed the MPs’ findings and said that a ‘one-size-fits-all approach
