​Scotland To 'Phase Out' Petrol And Diesel Cars By 2032

Nicola Sturgeon has outlined plans for the Scottish government to phase out new petrol and diesel cars and vans across Scotland by 2032.

Scotland's First Minister outlined plans to 'massively expand' electric charging points and to begin pilot projects encouraging the uptake of electric vehicles.

"Our aim is for new petrol and diesel cars and vans to be phased out in Scotland by 2032," Sturgeon said.

Watch the announcement here:

Credit: Sky News

Back in July the British government announced it would ban the production of petrol and diesel cars by 2040, following in the footsteps of countries such as Germany, India, Holland and Norway.

Electric cars have become increasingly popular over the last decade. Credit: PA Images

A government spokesman at the time said: "Poor air quality is the biggest environmental risk to public health in the UK and this government is determined to take strong action in the shortest time possible.

"That is why we're providing councils with new funding to accelerate development of local plans, as part of an ambitious £3 billion ($3.9bn) programme to clean up dirty air around our roads."

The move comes after a report last year suggested that there were up to 40,000 premature deaths each year due to excessive indoor and outdoor pollution.

Diesel emissions were partly to blame, according to a study by the Royal Colleges of Physicians, Paediatrics and Child Health.

Swedish car manufacturer Volvo has announced that it will only sell electric or hybrid cars by 2019.