The electric car industry has called on the Government to take urgent action to ensure the transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles remains on track.
It comes amid reports that Labour is planning to water down electric vehicle targets following pressure from lobbyists and car manufacturers.
The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate states that manufacturers must have a minimum percentage of sales come from electric cars, with a 33 per cent target by the end of the year.
Goals will continue to increase every year, including a jump to 80 per cent in 2030, before reaching 100 per cent in 2035, when only zero emission vehicles will remain on sale.
Read Also: Meghan Markle appears to be 'snubbed' during red carpet appearance
Reports had suggested that the Government was planning to launch a consultation which would revise the 2030 target from 80 per cent to just 50 per cent after complaints from the industry.
Many key players from the electric vehicle sector have now written to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to maintain current targets or risk “undermining billions of pounds of committed investment”.
The leaders of New AutoMotive, BT Group, ChargeUK, Osprey Charging Network, Electrifying.com, EVA England, FairCharge, Zapmap and more have signed the letter.
It states: “Watering down targets or significantly extending flexibilities would risk creating doubt in the minds of investors and would have a longer-term impact on business confidence.
“The mandate is working. EV sales are at an all-time high, and New AutoMotive estimates that carmakers are meeting or exceeding targets. In addition, the policy is delivering significant benefits.”
It points to research that shows how drivers capable of charging at home can save around £1,400 a year compared to owners of petrol and diesel cars.
The ZEV mandate has also supported £41billion of private sector investment, not only through manufacturing, but also in the battery supply chain.
Experts have also pointed to the benefits of reducing carbon emissions and improving energy security, with EVs set to almost halve the UK’s reliance on oil imports by 2040.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- Motorists issued urgent warning as thieves use drones to steal Volkswagen badges ‘in seconds’
- Police urge drivers to claim compensation from massive £1million car fraud investigation
- Glasgow Low Emission Zone’s running costs are higher than revenue from fines despite punishing drivers
The letter concludes by calling on the Government to maintain the UK’s course and to provide “strong leadership required to keep policy and investment aligned”.
While it has yet to commit to a date, the Department for Transport has hinted that it will launch a review and consultation into the ZEV mandate in early 2027.
Tanya Sinclair, CEO of Electric Vehicles UK, said the mandate wasn’t “too ambitious”, but was rather “deliberately flexible” to allow manufacturers to meet the targets.
“If everyone involved spent half as much time building consumer demand – as we do at EVUK – as they do arguing over percentages, we would be much closer to a fully electric future,” she said.
This was echoed by Gurjeet Grewal, CEO of Octopus Electric Vehicles, who stated that manufacturers had been given confidence to invest in EVs and boost the UK economy.
He added: “EVs are increasingly the best-value cars on the road and sales continue to grow at a remarkable pace. The last thing we need is another policy wobble that confuses consumers and puts investors off just as the transition is accelerating.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport told GB News: “We’re committed to the ZEV Mandate and are backing the transition to electric with £7.5billion to grow the market, boost EV manufacturing, increase sales and build up the UK charging network.
“The UK EV market is strong, but we’ve always said we’ll review the mandate to ensure taking a pragmatic and balanced approach that supports British industry and continues to drive investment.”
Our Standards:
The GB News Editorial Charter
