Battery electric cars: the route to zero emissions, or over-hyped?

The Government is expected to announce a date for banning sales of new fossil fuel cars to help meet its net zero target. But how much lower are the lifetime CO2 emissions of battery electric cars? It’s a lively debate

02 October 2020

If the rumours are to be believed, the Government is preparing to announce a ban on the sale of new fossil fuel cars, possibly from 2030. After that the choice will be battery electric or perhaps hydrogen, though the latter is for the time being regarded as a better bet for heavier vehicles.

Ministers see battery electric vehicles (BEVs) as a vital part of the decarbonisation agenda. Yet there are critics who argue that on financial, practical and environmental grounds, Britain’s...