Shell CEO Van Beurden says UK should move 2040 car ban forward
Chief executive of Shell, Ben Van Beurden, has reportedly said today that he believes the 2040 UK ban on petroleum and diesel car sales should be brought forward.
Written by David McPhee –
In response to a question from an audience member at the Powering Progress Together event in London, Mr Van Beurden reportedly said that while “everyone was going to have to move quickly, the UK ought to move more quickly than most” and that it was “sensible” that the government move the 2040 target forward.
Mr Van Beurden was speaking at the event on the eve of the company’s Shell Eco Marathon to outline his firm’s commitment to a “cleaner future, transport and beyond”.
Dustin Benton, policy director at Green Alliance UK and present at the speech, said: “Ben van Beurden said the UK should bring the 2040 ban forward.
“He didn’t actually specify to when the ban should be moved forward to, I would say 2030 of course.”
Erik Fairbairn, CEO of UK electric vehicle chargepoint supplier, added:“The UK’s ambition to be a global leader in mobility is compromised by weak targets for phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles.
“The current target of phasing out petrol and diesel by 2040 is neither far-reaching nor inspiring enough. And if recent reports are to be believed, these already weak goals are set to be watered down even further as part of the long awaited Road to Zero strategy.
“A ban by 2030 looks entirely feasible – it isn’t a crazy unachievable target. It’s a hard target, but it can be done. Just look at how batteries are improving while costs are plummeting (and hence EV range at a given price point). Battery costs are decreasing at about 19% every year.”
Shell has been contacted for comment.
Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
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A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
