AAP Factcheck: Claims UK will reduce car fuel tanks to make EVs competitive is nonsense

WHAT WAS CLAIMED

The UK government will reduce the capacity of vehicle fuel tanks from 2026.

OUR VERDICT

False. The claim originated as an April Fool’s Day joke.

AAP FACTCHECK – A fake British government media release outlining a new policy on reducing the capacity of car fuel tanks is spreading online.

However, the UK government says the document is fabricated, and it was initially shared as an apparent April Fool’s Day joke.

The claim is in a Facebook Reel featuring an image of a purported media release from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero by a user who appears to be based in Australia.

It states that from 2026, new cars will have a maximum 20-litre fuel tank, which will then be reduced to 10 litres by 2030.

The document also says limiting the range of petrol vehicles will level the playing field with electric cars.

“This madness IS BECOMING DICTATORIAL! It’s time… TIME TO ORGANISE AND TIME TO RISE!” the Facebook Reel’s caption said.

Another Facebook post claimed the purported UK policy would soon be rolled out across the other Five Eyes intelligence-sharing nations: Canada, New Zealand, the US and Australia.

“The dystopian script is unfolding right on schedule. A leaked draft press release has confirmed that new laws will forcibly reduce fuel tank sizes over the coming years,” the caption said.

“When this law reaches Australia, I’ll be forced to refuel every 15 minutes under their CLIMATE LOCKDOWN PROGRAM.

“They’re capping fuel tanks at 20 litres, which means most people will barely get 20 minutes of drive time before running empty.”

Some Facebook posts include the full version of the document, which includes a quote from a “spokesperson” named “Aprile Fulz”.

The publication date is listed as April 1, 2025.

While the UK government policy is to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 as part of its carbon emissions reduction targets, it says the claim about reducing engine capacities is false.

A UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson told AAP FactCheck that there was no truth to the claim and the release did not originate from the department.

Reuters Fact Check and Logically Facts have both debunked the claim.

AAP FactCheck is an accredited member of the International Fact-Checking Network. To keep up with our latest fact checks, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, BlueSky, TikTok and YouTube.

Source: AAP