Revised zero-emission vehicle mandate becomes law

The zero-emission vehicle mandate (ZEV), which supports government targets for all new cars and vans to be zero-emission by 2035, is now law.

The mandate sets out the percentage of new zero emission cars and vans that manufacturers will now be required to produce each year up to 2030. The government said that around 80 per cent of new cars and 70 per cent of vans will be zero-emission by 2030, increasing to 100 per cent by 2035.

The Department for Transport claims that the UK now has the “most ambitious” regulatory framework for the switch to electric vehicles of any country in the world.

The UK government previously delayed the ban on new diesel and petrol cars from 2030 to 2035 which puts it in line with other countries such as France, Germany, Sweden and Canada.

The government said the decision would allow drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles and to increase the required charging infrastructure.

“Alongside us having spent more than £2 billion in the transition to electric vehicles, our zero-emission vehicle mandate will further boost the economy and support manufacturers to safeguard skilled British jobs in the automotive industry,” said technology and decarbonisation minister Anthony Browne. “We are providing investment certainty for the charging sector to expand our charging network which has already grown by 44 per cent since this time last year. This will support the constantly growing number of EVs in the UK, which currently account for over 16 per cent of the new UK car market.”

Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) which represents car and commercial retailers across the UK commented, “The introduction of the ZEV mandate into law will be a key policy in driving electric vehicle uptake and will heavily influence the automotive retail sector in its ongoing transition to electric. The automotive retailing sector has been supportive of the Government’s targets for net-zero in 2050 and as such has invested heavily in driving the electrification of the vehicle parc.”

“Nevertheless, there is still more that needs to be done by government to maintain the positive electric vehicle trajectory in registrations and increase public confidence.

“Whilst the ZEV mandate is certainly a step in the right direction, the Government needs to offer more attractive price incentives and look to improve EV charging infrastructure across the country to increase consumer confidence in electric and help drive the country towards its net-zero commitments.”

The ZEV mandate will only apply to England, Wales and Scotland and not Northern Ireland, which currently has less than 1% of UK’s total charging points.