The Government has opened a consultation on electric two-wheelers as it marks the one-year anniversary since the Transport Decarbonisation Plan was introduced.

To mark the one-year anniversary, the Government is launching a new public consultation on phasing out the sale of new fossil-fuelled motorbikes and mopeds by 2035

Published on 15 July 2021, the Plan provided a first-ever pathway for the whole transport sector to reach the legal requirement of net zero by 2050. Measures included the 2040 ban on diesel and petrol HGVs, the publication of a 2035 delivery plan for the ICE car/van ban, plans for the government fleet to go zero-emission by 2027, a commitment to consult on the zero-emission vehicle mandate – with the consultation now finished and the findings under review – and action on smart charging and active travel.

The progress one year on today shows almost 7,500 extra electric vehicle charge points have been installed, supporting the 900,000 green vehicles that are on UK roads, and over 130 new walking and cycling schemes have been funded.

To mark the one-year anniversary, the Government is launching a new public consultation to accelerate the transition to zero-emission travel by phasing out the sale of new fossil-fuelled motorbikes and mopeds by 2035, or even earlier for some vehicles.

A further public consultation, Course to Zero, is launchign to seek views on the best route to net zero emissions by 2050 for the UK’s domestic maritime sector.

Transport Minister Trudy Harrison said: “Across road, rail, sea and air we have taken decisive action to reduce harmful emissions while enabling innovation and growing the economy.

“We have provided certainly to both the industry and consumers through investment to stimulate a new market to reduce the need for fossil fuels.”

Alongside the consultations, the Department for Transport is announcing funding for a competition to help industry develop the zero-emission motorcycle supply chain in the UK. This – it says – will help create a manufacturing base for small, emission-free vehicles and could lead to thousands of new jobs across the UK.

The Government is also aiming to improve health and make walking and cycling the natural first choice for shorter journeys by publishing its second Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. It sets out estimated investment, already committed from various funds, of almost £4bn into active travel across the Government until 2025, including £2bn announced for active travel in 2020.

This investment will deliver measures including high-quality walking and cycling routes, safer road junctions, cycle training and a Walk to School Outreach initiative.