Electric Vehicles UK (EVUK) says hybids without a plug should be banned or else confidence in electric cars will be damaged.
Ministers were warned that Britain needs to press ahead with a ban on the sale of new hybrid cars, which charge a battery from an internal combustion engine, from 2030 or risk taking "a catastrophic misstep" on the road to net zero.
The Department for Transport (DfT) will ban the sale of new cars powered solely by internal combustion engines from 1 January 2030. It is consulting on what other types of new cars, such as full hybrids, can be sold between that date and the end of 2034, after which all non-zero-emission new cars will be prohibited.
Ministers have come under huge pressure to delay the date when a full ban on non-electric cars take place.
Full hybrids have a petrol or diesel engine as well as an electric motor powered by a battery. The battery is recharged by the engine rather than an external plug, and they can usually only be driven on electricity alone for a few miles and at low speeds.
Dan Caesar, Chief Executive of EVUK, said he was not opposed to new plug-in hybrids, some of which are capable of zero-emission driving more than 50 miles, being sold between 2030 and 2035, but called for those without a plug to be banned.
He told the PA news agency: "The inclusion of full hybrid technology would be a catastrophic misstep and make a laughingstock of the UK government’s world-leading zero-emission vehicle policy".
"If lobbyists do persuade government to include full hybrids it would be a big backward move".
"Holding the line and creating certainty around EVs has the potential to be a key measure towards revitalising a sluggish economy".
Dr Andy Palmer, a former Chief Executive of Aston Martin and ex-operating Chief of Nissan, described full hybrids as "a better solution" than mild hybrids, which cannot be driven on electricity alone, but said they used a technology belongs to the late 1990s.
Under the zero-emission vehicles (Zev) mandate introduced at the start of 2024, manufacturers must sell a minimum percentage of pure electric cars each year. The threshold will rise from:
The government's consultation, which runs until 18 February, will consider more flexible deadlines after some parts of the automotive industry claimed the mandate was putting jobs on the line.
A DfT spokesperson said: "We are consulting with industry on which cars, including which types of hybrid cars, can be sold alongside fully zero-emission vehicles from 2030".
"Industry will help us shape the transition to zero-emissions vehicles in a way that works for businesses, drivers, and the environment".
"Together we can capitalise on the clean energy transition to support thousands of jobs, make the UK a clean energy superpower, and rebuild Britain".
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