The UK's vehicle industry has hit out on the government over unconfirmed reports ministers will target hybrid cars as part of a new emissions crackdown.
New vehicles unable to do at the least 50 miles on electric power can be banned via 2040, a ruling that could hit the UK's excellent-selling hybrid, toyota's prius.
The smmt automobile change body said "misleading" government messages have been unfavorable the enterprise and hitting jobs.
In a short assertion, the branch for transport denied plans for a ban.
The monetary times and autocar stated that the authorities's avenue to 0 vehicle emissions method changed into due to be unveiled imminently.
Commercial
It follows remaining 12 months's statement through the government that it'd ban the sale of all new diesel and petrol automobiles within the uk via 2040. But the function on electrified models became doubtful, and street to 0 is due to clarify the situation.
The feet and autocar reported that automobiles which could not tour at the least 50 miles the use of only electric electricity would be outlawed.
Along side the bans on new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2040, that might affect ninety eight% of the automobiles presently on britain's roads, along with the popular prius, which like most plug-in hybrids on sale generally offer 30 miles of zero-emissions travel.
The prius might no longer be categorised as "environmentally pleasant".
'wreaking havoc'
Mike hawes, chief executive of the society of motor producers and traders, stated the enterprise was turning into increasingly worried.
He criticised the shortage of clarity over the authorities's plans.
"unrealistic targets and misleading messaging on bans will simplest undermine our efforts to recognize this destiny, confusing consumers and wreaking havoc on the brand new car marketplace and the lots of jobs it supports," mr hawes resource.
He stated the enterprise shares the authorities's purpose of zero emission transport and turned into investing billions of kilos in new technologies and imparting greater customer choice.
However he delivered: "we can not help ambition tiers which do not recognize how industry, the customer or the market perform and that are based neither on truth nor substance.
"clients want clean facts about the right cars for his or her driving desires and it's miles once more disappointing for each enterprise and customers that vitally crucial statistics about government coverage is being communicated by using leaks."
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By means of theo leggett, bbc commercial enterprise correspondent
If the government absolutely is planning to include hybrids as part of its 2040 ban on income of petrol and diesel cars, it makes that coverage lots greater formidable - and doubtlessly a good deal extra of a headache for the industry.
By 2040, it's far affordable to expect that almost all cars may be hybridised in some way, because of ever tightening emissions regulation. That makes a ban that handiest covers conventional, non-hybridised motors likely to be pretty beside the point.
But if the authorities stipulates that every one motors ought to be capable of travel at the least 50 miles on electric strength, then a whole swathe of contemporary machines might be outlawed. Even the overall performance of most so-known as plug-in hybrids, that can already journey at the least a long way on battery strength, will not be precise enough.
Meaning loads extra funding will be wished, each to make vehicles more efficient, and to beef up charging infrastructure. And car customers will need to be advocated to buy the right motors.
The proposed ban might be 22 years away - however arguments over who can pay for what are possibly to start raging faster in preference to later.
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A department for shipping (dft) spokesperson said: "it's miles categorically untrue that authorities is making plans to ban the sale of hybrid vehicles within the uk by way of 2040."
The dft added: "we do not touch upon leaked draft files. The street to zero method is but to be finalised and has no longer been agreed by way of ministers."
But autocar's editorial director jim holder accused the government of failing to provide "any readability of the way it will support the ban" through purchase incentives and the creation of a appropriate charging infrastructure.
"by way of implementing a ban with so little element or proof of aid car shoppers are probably to be burdened all over again," he told the clicking association.
