Drivers will be relieved to know that the fuel price rises of recent weeks appear to be slowing down and should hopefully top out now, said RAC head of policy Simon Williams.
Since 6 July the average price of petrol has gone up 11p a litre adding £6 to the cost of a full tank (£89). Diesel has been even harder hit, going up 17p a litre since 9 July which has made a fill-up up nearly £10 more expensive at £100.
“The change in drivers’ forecourt fortunes has been brought about by crude oil falling to around $80 a barrel this week, having briefly gone above $100 in late July before then settling at $90 until the end of the month. Providing there are no more shocks to the oil price from the conflict, the picture at the pumps for petrol particularly looks optimistic.”
In yet another twist to the debate over the stated zero emissions mandate and Government policy, it looks like a further extension to the deadline is to be forthcoming after the former Conservative Government eased off the drive to EVs.
Anna Krajinska, Transport & Environment UK Director, said, “The Government is caving into auto industry lobbying and gambling away the future of UK car manufacturing to cover up its failure to deliver a credible auto industrial strategy.
“Slashing the 2030 EV target will leave Britain behind in the global electric race and mean up to 3 million fewer electric cars on our roads, locking drivers into years of expensive and volatile petrol and diesel prices.”
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has been saying for months that buyer demand is not there for the new EVs due to energy costs and infrastucture shortcomings and needed some further investment and encouragement by the Government. However, recent registration figures indicate demand for EVs is growing if their prices are competitive and there are Government grants to assist.
The car makers are facing huge investment and manufacturding costs and dont want to take a hit on prices so look to the Government to stimulate deamnd rather than lead on price cuts which affect the makers and retailers.
