UK political party the Liberal Democrats are debating introducing a plank to their platform that petrol and diesel cars should be banned from British roads by 2040. They are also debating charging drivers for each trip depending on distance and location. 

“By 2040, only ultra-low carbon vehicles will be permitted on UK roads for non-freight purposes. If technology permitted, we would bring forward this date,” the Liberal Democrat document read.

The plan dictates that each year fees for vehicle emissions would increase until petrol and diesel cars were completely banned in 2040. The charges would be weighted so that the charges for cars with higher emissions would have their fees increase more than cleaner cars. 

The vehicle use charge would have drivers charged for each time that they use their car depending on distance, the car's emissions, time of day and the location of the trip. For example, trips into heavily populated areas at peak travel times would carry the highest charge. 

The concept behind congestion and usage charges is that it puts a direct financial cost on driving. It attempts to force people to stop driving in favor of mass transit. 

“Setting a date now in the absence of hard data about what the implications would be is risky. The AA has always believed small, fuel-efficient petrol and diesel cars will continue to have major role even beyond 2040," said a spokesperson for the Automobile Association in the UK.

Neither of these proposals are official yet, and they still have to be voted on by the party to become an official portion of their policy. 

Source: Auto Express