The Andy Burnham government has launched a review into the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, confirming £600m for new charge points and grants of up to £500 for home chargers, as electric vehicle sales continue to climb.
Government confirms £600m investment in charge points
In a press release announcing the consultation, the Labour government said it is investing £600m to roll out more charge points, building on the 120,000 already available on the public network and over a million in homes and workplaces. The government also confirmed that renters can now almost halve the cost of installing a home charger thanks to grants of up to £500. This £500 boost is aimed at households with driveways, allowing them to have a chargepoint fitted so they do not have to rely on public chargepoints.
The review comes as more than one in four new cars sold are now electric, and EV sales are up 45% on July last year. The government says it will review EV sales targets to back jobs, investment, and maintain a competitive UK automotive sector.
Ministers stress support for industry
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "The UK EV market is strong - sales are up, British manufacturers and charge point operators are investing billions, alongside our backing of £7.5bn, including our Electric Car Grant that has helped over 160,000 people make the switch. It’s right we keep targets under review to ensure they're practical and back British industry. The end goal hasn't changed – but we need to take business with us on the journey, and that’s exactly what we’re doing today, by making sure industry has the chance to shape how we get there."
Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: "The UK's automotive sector is vital to our economy and future growth, and we’re determined to keep it that way as we get on with reindustrialising Britain to deliver good growth in every postcode. This consultation is about listening to industry, examining the evidence and making sure the Mandate continues supporting investment, innovation and competitiveness, so Britain’s car sector can thrive."
Consultation open until October
The consultation, launched by the UK and Devolved Governments, will run until 23 October. Industry stakeholders and the public are invited to contribute their views on how the ZEV mandate should operate in the future.
