44 | OCTOBER 2017
Motoring
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
DEATH KNELL FOR
TRADITIONAL FUEL
The sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in the UK will be
banned from 2040, under the government’s Clean Air Strategy.
The ambitious long-term
plan is part of the government’s
pledge ‘to be the first generation
to leave the environment in a
better state than when we inher-
ited it.’
Under the scheme, traditional
cars and vans will be gradually
phased out in favour of electric
and hybrid vehicles.
Sales of alternative fuel vehicles
have grown in the UK recent years,
but they remain far from main-
stream. According to the Society of
Motor Manufacturers and Traders
(SMMT), electric vehicles account-
ed for only 1.8% of all new car
registrations in June 2017, while
hybrid vehicles made up 2.6% of
the market in the same month.
Some manufacturers have
already promised to make the
switch to cleaner vehicles includ-
ing Volvo and BMW.
Plans for the short term
The 2040 end of traditionally
fuelled vehicles is a long way off
but the new publication an-
nounced some plans for the short
term.
For example, the government
plans to publish a wider Clean
Air Strategy next year setting out
how it will meet new emissions
targets by 2020 and 2030. Local
authorities will be required to set
out initial Clean Air Plans, with a
deadline of March 2018.
The recent publication is part of
a wider £2.7bn scheme to improve
air quality and reduce roadside
nitrogen dioxide concentrations.
The government has pledged £1bn
to encourage uptake of ultra-low
emission vehicles in advance of
the 2040 switchover, with other
parts of the budget allocated to
reducing emissions from buses,
encouraging cycling and walking,
and improving the charging infra-
structure for electric cars.
Getting drivers on board
Kasey Cassells, motor insur-
ance expert at uSwitch.com, said:
“This is a positive move from the
government and shows that there
is a real commitment to tackling
air quality across the UK. Electric
and hybrid cars have been part
of our driving landscape for a
Driver Academy tackles shortage
NWH Group’s ‘Driver
Academy’ is helping over-
come an industry-wide
shortage of Class 2 HGV
drivers.
Mark Williams, managing
director at NWH Group,
said: “The rising cost of the
licence and the difficulty
faced in finding work as
a newly qualified driver,
means businesses the length
and breadth of the country
are faced with the challenge
of a driver shortage which
is preventing services from
being delivered.
“Insurance companies of-
ten do not allow companies
to recruit new drivers due
to risk, so we are working
together to help overcome
this major issue.”
NWH has been working
alongside its own insurance
provider to create the Driver
Academy. The purpose of
the academy is to enable
NWH to recruit and train
new HGV drivers by pairing
them with an experienced
mentor who will assist in
their professional devel-
opment and ensure that
they are driving at indus-
try standard before being
allowed to drive solo.
NWH offers drivers a
highly competitive packag-
ing with weekly pay in the
region