Electric car production falls despite looming 2035 combustion engine deadline

Production of electric cars fell by more than 25% last month despite the looming sales ban on traditional combustion engines, according to industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

It comes as major UK manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) told Sky News more needs to be done to make buying and owning an electric car more appealing.

More investment in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is needed, according to Trevor Leeks, the operations director of JLR's Halewood plant on Merseyside. A further £500m investment in electric car production has just been announced for the site.

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"We're hoping that the new government does do more especially around the charging infrastructure; the charging infrastructure on motorways; fast charging", Mr Leeks said.

Incentives such as vehicle exchange schemes would also be of use, Mr Leeks added, as well as places to charge EVs around the country.

The latest figures from the Department for Transport show there were 64,632 public electric vehicle charging devices installed in the UK in July.

Surveys have previously shown nearly three-quarters of EV owners are unhappy with the public charging system.

Less than 24,000 - equivalent to 37% of chargers - were on street chargers.

The last government announced plans to create around 300,000 public EV charging points by 2030.

Approaching targets

A deadline of 2035 has been set by the government to phase out the sale of fossil fuel-powered engines, a five-year extension announced by former prime minister Rishi Sunak last year.

There are interim targets for the country to hit - 22 per cent of sales this year must be electric. This rises to 28% in 2025 and increases to 80% of all sales being EVs by 2030.

But sales of EVs have been waning as the upfront cost of a new electric car is more expensive than a petrol or diesel-fuelled car.

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The state had been called on by the SMMT to cut taxes on electric vehicles to revive sales.

JLR said it aimed to have all its brands with an electric-only version by 2030.

(c) Sky News 2024: Electric car production falls despite looming 2035 combustion engine deadline