UK To Ban Petrol Motorcycles By 2035

[Mad On Triumphs]

UK to ban petrol motorcycles by 2035.

When it was announced, back in December 2020, that combustion-fuelled cars and vans would be banned from sale in the UK from 2030, motorcycles appeared to have dodged a bullet. Alas, last week’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan has sealed their fate, with the Department for Transport announcing that from 2035, “all new L-category vehicles to be fully zero emissions at the tailpipe”. L-category vehicles, or Powered Light Vehicles, comprise powered two and three-wheelers (motorbikes, mopeds etc), quadricycles and 'micro cars'.

This is the first time that motorcycles have faced specific proposals regarding electrification, with the government committing to “consult this year on a phase out date of 2035, or earlier if a faster transition appears feasible, for the sale of new non-zero emission powered two and three wheelers (and other L category vehicles)”.

The Department for Transport plan goes on to state: “Zero emission motorcycles and other powered two wheelers are an efficient and clean form of mobility that can reduce congestion, improve urban air quality and reduce noise – we will take forward measures to remove these emissions, including consulting on a date to end the sale of new non-zero emission motorbikes, ensuring we support the development of new industrial opportunities for the UK.”

Despite motorcyclists’ hopes that two-wheelers would remain exempt from the combustion cull due to their relative minority on the roads, the report elaborates” “While cars and vans outnumber motorcycles on UK roads, motorcycles are an important and sizeable vehicle population, with 1.4 million licensed in 2020 and we do not want to see them remaining fossil fuelled as the rest of the vehicle fleet cleans up.”

Support for electric motorcycles is also detailed in the plan. Included in a package of “financial and non-financial incentives” is a further £582 million for plug-in car, van, taxi, and motorcycle grants until 2022-23, in order to reduce zero-emission vehicle purchase prices for consumers. Opportunities for zero emission light powered vehicles will also be explored through Zemo’s (formerly the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership) partnership with the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA).

 

[Rocky]

Grim reality.

 

[sikatri]

It won’t happen that fast in all parts of the world. I guess a Triumph motorcycles as we know them now have an expiration date. Will Triumph in India keep producing petrol motorcycles and simple not sell them in the UK?

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

All this will be done under the environmental banner, I don't know enough to comment on that side of their thinking, but I do think that governments worldwide will come to the conclusion that the petrol engine has had its day. Best I go and buy that Chrome /red tank Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor.
What a cracking looking bike that is.

 

[Qship]

Does it mean they'll be banned from roads or just for new sales?

 

[Vector]

Irrelevant, within a year they will use this plan-demic to look us down and ban most travel by us peons.

 

[brooke]

Imagine the old ones will be allowed out in the gardens on nice days . With their safety wheels attached of course .

 

[sikatri]

It's all rather naive and ill considered. Work toward cleaner transportation, but bans don't resolve the underlying issues. Making positive rewards to switch and get primary transportation to be zero emissions would. That doesn't mean bans. It means giving incentives.

 

[Greyfell]

I think they will realize, to their utter chagrin, they can't achieve their planned goals.

 

[sikatri]

I think they will realize, to their utter chagrin, they can't achieve their planned goals.

I think they will realize they failed and there won't be enough zero free transportation to cover everyone's needs. As long as there is petrol, poor less developed countries will use it. This is ill-considered and panders to a specific constituency. 13 years, good luck.

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

Does it mean they'll be banned from roads or just for new sales?

No, it's just the sale of new bikes.
Take a look at this It's an interesting take on this whole environmental thing. 10.00 mins in will interest some.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS2Kq_qzl-A&ab_channel=stuartfillingham

 

[Dinney]

Total and utter garbage. If I was a betting man I'd lay a few quid to say that a total ban on new IC vehicles will not happen in the UK at the date being proposed. Apart from it not making one iota of meaningful difference to the global climate for the UK to cut its own throat in this manner, the politicians will realise it's a massive vote loser and back-pedal and water it down. They always do when their jobs are at stake as has been demonstrated in the past. Currently they're beguiled by the so called Greens and their publicity machine that's become bored with nuclear and the usual anti this and that, but have now latched onto CO2, and climate. I guess another bandwagon (ideally horse drawn or electric) will come along for them soon.
Yes, we need to make city centre air cleaner still.............. yes, encourage cleaner and more efficient fossil IC and/or hybrid vehicles and make public transport more affordable and attractive while you're at it, including a whole host of other strategies to cut overall fossil energy consumption, but without destroying the country.
As for motorcycles being a big climate change problem - don't make me laugh.

 

[DaveM]

Well this had to come at some point but I am sure at the end of the day something just as nice as what we have now will replace the bikes we now know.

 

[Vector]

Electric motorcycle will improve, longer range, plenty of power. We will just need to put baseball cards in the spokes.

 

[sikatri]

I don’t doubt that electric vehicles will eventually be the preferred mode of transportation. I just don’t think the way to go about the transition is through bans.
As for Vector’s comment on the baseball cards, I’m pretty sure crafty engineers can design in sound. I say this because it’s been done in the car manufacturing sector. I have a 2009 MINI JCW and in the engine compartment there was a device they specifically called a “noise maker”. It generated noise and pumped it into the cabin compartment since the engine had been designed to be quiet. I’ve removed it since it also robbed a slight amount of power from the engine and was always in the way during many maintenance jobs. We won’t need the baseball cards, engineers will save the day! LoL.

 

[Greyfell]

No, it's just the sale of new bikes.
Take a look at this It's an interesting take on this whole environmental thing. 10.00 mins in will interest some.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS2Kq_qzl-A&ab_channel=stuartfillingham

I like that he encourages the viewer to consider his viewpoint but to make their own decision. He would make a good debater in a court or Parliament; he makes a lot of sense, and backs up his arguments.

 

[sikatri]

I’ve heard and read about the deficiencies of electric vehicles and the not so zero emissions print before. What he said on the video was not surprising in that respect. Not having much knowledge on U.K. political workings, I was surprised how it appears these legislations have been railroaded and driven under the radar to prevent people from objecting. I agree with many of his points and I agree that creating laws based on technology that does not exist is pure folly. I don’t think it’s a good sign when governments which are supposed to represent people ignore them completely. I doubt this is the last word on these topics, the economic ramifications are pretty dire. A key point mentioned which always needs to be considered, sustainability. If society breaks down and people cannot support themselves then sustainability has not been achieved. I will be following how similar trends develop state side, I would not support the way it has been done in the U.K..

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

Welcome to British politics.

 

[sikatri]

Welcome to British politics.

Hope y’all sort it out before 2035. Sounds like motorcycle riders and all motorists need to unite on this one.

 

[Dinney]

I can only speak for the UK situation, but what's also not being addressed is that the wider and wider electrification of personal transport within the next few decades will remove the option of owning a vehicle for a huge number of people on modest or low incomes.
The residual value of an EV will not fall to the levels that we see with, for instance, a fifteen years old IC car. To make things worse, an EV of similar age will require to have a new battery costing, we are led to believe, several thousands of pounds to replace and make the car useable.
With care, it's perfectly possible to buy a good used car now for under a couple of thousand pounds and very often much less - all perfectly roadworthy and able to provide basic family transport for those people who don't earn big money to finance tens of thousands on buying outright or getting trapped into finance deals.
My own vehicle is a 2008 Ford Mondeo that I've had from new (my company car that I bought from the leasing company at the end of the four year contract). It's worth next to nothing as a part exchange, but if I sold it privately for say a thousand pounds, the buyer would get a good solid car for very little money. The rush to scrap 'dirty' cars like mine and deny some people the opportunity to own an affordable vehicle will soon be realised. Maybe that's the idea?