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TOKYO: The government of Japan is considering abolishing sales of new gasoline-powered cars by the mid-2030s in favor of hybrid or electric vehicles in line with a global shift away from traditional motor cars, it reported Thursday (3 December) the public broadcaster NHK.
The move would follow Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s promise in October that Japan would cut carbon emissions to zero net by 2050 and would make the country the second G7 nation to set a deadline to phase out gasoline vehicles soon. more than two weeks.
Japan’s Ministry of Industry will draw up a plan by the end of the year, chief government spokesman Katsunobu Kato said at a press conference on Thursday.
The ministry is considering requiring all new vehicles to be electric, including hybrid vehicles, NHK previously reported, adding that the ministry would finalize a formal target following expert panel discussions at the end of the year.
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In Japan, the share of electric vehicles is expected to rise to 55 percent by 2030, the Boston Consulting Group said in a report on the outlook for battery-powered cars.
Globally, “the rate of expansion of EV share will accelerate due to the fact that battery prices are falling faster than expected,” Boston Consulting said in the report.
The UK will ban sales of new gasoline and diesel cars and vans from 2030, pushing forward the phase-out date by five years in what Prime Minister Boris Johnson called a “green revolution.”
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Japan, China and South Korea recently announced firm targets to end net carbon emissions, which has given impetus for businesses and banks to push for cuts to keep global warming in check.
Policies and investments in the coming years will be crucial in setting the path to carbon neutrality, climate activists and energy transition strategists agree.
