France to ban petrol sale

France to ban sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2040

Nicolas Hulot announced the planned ban on fossil fuel vehicles as part of a renewed commitment to the Paris climate deal.

He said France planned to become carbon neutral by 2050.

Hybrid cars make up about 3.5 percent of the French market, with pure electric vehicles accounting for just 1.2 percent.

It is not yet clear what will happen to existing fossil fuel vehicles still in use in 2040.