A total ban on new petrol and diesel cars and vans should be brought forward to 2032 to boost sales of electric vehicles, MPs have urged.
Ministers must "get a grip" and tackle a lack of charging points, one of the main barriers to people buying electric cars, the parliamentary Business Committee warned.
The Government outlined a goal for an end to sales of new "conventional" petrol and diesel cars by 2040 as part of efforts to clean up transport which causes air pollution.
By 2040, all new cars and vans should be "effectively zero-emission", ministers said.
But the committee warned that targets are "vague and unambitious", and the lack of clarity on which vehicles will and will not be sold in 2040 is "unacceptable".
The 2040 target puts the UK behind a range of countries including Norway, which is aiming for an end to combustion engine cars in 2025, and India, China, the Netherlands and Ireland with a 2030 goal and Scotland with a target of 2032.
A clear UK target is needed for new cars and vans to be "truly zero-emission" and it should be brought forward to make the UK a world leader, not left in the passenger seat on electric vehicle (EV) development, the MPs said.
The committee criticised the Government for leaving delivery of a national charging network to local authorities and private companies, and called for regulations to provide an extensive, reliable and standardised public system.
Committee chairwoman Rachel Reeves said: "The Government cannot simply will the ends and leave local government, or private companies, to deliver the means.
"The Government needs to get a grip and lead on co-ordinating the financial support and technical know-how necessary for local authorities to promote this infrastructure and help ensure that electric cars are an attractive option for consumers."
