ZEV mandate revised by government

author: FutureCar Staff    

The UK government has recently made updates to its zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate. This mandate outlines the required percentage of zero-emission cars and vans that vehicle manufacturers must sell starting from next year. The percentage will gradually increase over time.

While the 2024 requirement remains unchanged, with at least 22% of new cars and 10% of new vans needing to be zero-emission, other targets have been adjusted. This adjustment comes after the government announced a delay in the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035. As a result, the ZEV mandate now states that by 2030, manufacturers must ensure that 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans are electric. These proportions will then increase incrementally until reaching 100% in 2035.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper believes that this mandate provides certainty for manufacturers, offers more options for drivers, and contributes to economic growth by creating skilled jobs.

However, Dominic Phinn, the senior policy manager at Climate Group, has expressed concerns about the government's approach. While he acknowledges that the mandate provides clarity and certainty for businesses, he believes that the recent decision to delay the phase-out date for petrol and diesel cars undermines the enthusiasm surrounding this announcement. Phinn highlights that while it is positive that manufacturers will be required to ensure 80% of their passenger car sales are fully electric by 2030, he is disappointed that the targets for vans have been lowered. He argues that the delay in the phase-out date hampers business confidence and exacerbates the challenge of acquiring electric vans, which many businesses were already facing. Phinn urges the government to fulfill its commitments and prioritize driving the electric vehicle transition as a crucial step towards achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

FutureCar Staff