Petrol and diesel car ban in tatters as British drivers defy orders

British motorists are refusing to switch to electric cars despite the Government standing firm on their pledge to ban petrol and diesel models by 2030. Sales of new combustion machines will be stopped at the end of the decade as officials push drivers towards eco-friendly options. But despite the huge marketing push behind electric models from manufacturers, UK motorists still aren’t interested. A new survey from Turo shows a staggering 43 percent of Britons won’t consider switching to an electric model when they next come to switch. Older generations are most likely to refuse EVs with 53 percent of Gen Z and baby boomers claiming they would not be buying an electric model. UK drivers are not interested in electric despite Rishi Sunak’s pledge (Image: Getty) The new poll is likely to cause a headache for Conservative ministers who have doubled down on their 2030 pledge. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been under pressure to alter the deadline after 43 MPs and peers demanded he changed the ‘unworkable’ policy. Among those to call out the policy was former leader Iain Duncan Smith and former cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg. However, Mr Sunak reaffirmed his backing to the petrol and diesel ban on Monday in a bid to ward off the opposition. 87 percent of Britons are concerned about the cost of electric cars (Image: Getty) He told BBC Radio Scotland: ‘That’s about new cars, not all existing cars. So it’s the sale of new cars. That’s been the Government’s policy for a long time. It remains the Government’s policy. ‘But what I have said more generally on my approach, is that we will transition to net zero. ‘I’m committed to it, but we will do it in a proportionate and pragmatic way that doesn’t necessarily add burden or cost to families’ bills.’ According to the new report, the cost of purchasing an electric car is considered to be one of the biggest barriers to take up. A staggering 87 percent of those polled felt this was a major factor not to make the transition while 88 percent were worried about battery life. Almost nine in 10 polled also raised concerns about the lack of charging plugs available in public places. Xavier Collins, UK VP at Turo, explained: ‘As 2030 approaches, there is no doubt that more and more drivers will want to turn to electric vehicles, and we’re delighted to see an increasing number of EVs on our platform. ‘But as our research shows, currently the barriers to purchase are still too big for many. Buying an EV is understandably a big step, whether it’s due to the high purchase cost or fear of the unknown.’