Thursday 30 March 2023

UK sticks to 2030 petrol car ban and ZEV Mandate

The UK government has reaffirmed its stance on electric vehicles (EVs), sticking with its 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars.

This is despite the EU imposing a 2035 ban earlier this week.

In addition to this, the final consultation on the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate is set to take place; requiring the proportion of electric vehicles (EVs) carmakers sell to increase steadily until 2030.

The increase will begin at 22% for 2024 until it gradually reaches 80% by the end of the decade.

More than £380 million has been earmarked to increase the number of EVs on British roads – improving and growing the charging network.

The industry welcomed the announcement, with Fiona Howarth, CEO of Octopus Electric Vehicles, stating: “The ZEV Mandate will set the roadmap towards 2030 zero emissions transport - cutting harmful emissions for both people and the planet.

“The devil will be in the detail and this is our chance to further drive down costs and encourage new models to enter the market; giving drivers access to cheaper, greener, tech on wheels transport.”

Guy Spence, Managing Director of LV ElectriX, added: “The requirement for car manufacturers to sell a certain number of electric cars is good news for the British driving community. If done right, the ZEV Mandate will help us reach price parity of electric vehicles with petrol and diesel cars sooner.”

The industry is also hopeful that the mandate will see a growth in the second-hand EV market, making it easier for people to join the electric revolution at a more affordable price point.