As part of the UK government's air quality plan, the UK will end the sale of new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040 – the 'road to zero'.

Road to Zero also includes government's ambitions for the number of ultra-low emission vehicles on the road by 2030. The government wants at least 50% — and as many as 70% — of new car registrations to be ultra-low emission by 2030, alongside up to 40% of new vans.

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The SMMT warned that the target of 50-70% of the market for cars and 40% of the market for vans "is far higher than the expectations set out by the European Commission or by other major automotive markets". The UK is currently at just 2.2% market penetration of ultra-low emission vehicles, and only 0.6% of zero emission vehicles, underscoring the challenge involved in increasing this to at least 50% in only 12 years.

For consumers to adopt these technologies, the SMMT said government must provide a long-term commitment to a "world-class package of incentives, including tax and other financial stimuli, policy support and infrastructure – only some of which have been set out today".

Since 2009, the UK's Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) has considered an ultra-low emission vehicle (ULEV) to be a car or van that emits less than 75g/km of CO2.

Recognising advancements in technology, the government says that from 2021 it expects to define an ULEV as a car or van that emits less than 50g/km. The Road to Zero Strategy is described by the government as technology neutral and does not speculate on which technologies might help to deliver the 2040 goal.

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