France aims to be free of petrol and diesel cars by 2040

France has announced that it aims to be free of petrol and diesel cars by 2040. This is a part of its larger plan to become a carbon neutral nation by 2050 and this was announced by the French environment minister Nicolas Hulot as a part of France´s renewed commitment to the Paris Climate Accord.

The country has a big task ahead of it in the pursuit of this goal as currently in France, the ratio of electric and hybrid vehicles is quite small as compared to vehicles powered by conventional fuel sources. Come 2040, this trend will have to be reversed to meet the goal that the country has set. The three major French manufacturers, Peugeot, Citroen and Renault are already working towards this bigger goal with a plan to convert 80 per cent of their range hybrid or fully electric by 2023.

However, it is still unclear if the ban or removal will be retrospective and include a programme where there will be official support for the removal of older cars in favour of newer and cleaner models.  

For a country like France to take such a huge step is a positive move in favour of preserving the earth for the future generations as well tackling current pollution issues. There is no doubt that the hybrid and electric revolution is coming. Its ascent has been enabled in recent times by issues like the dieselgate saga which have shown conventional fuel cars in a lesser light.