The UK's electric vehicle (EV) targets have been slammed as "delusional" and damaging to the nation's financial health, according to a leading industry figure.
CEO Criticizes EV Mandate
Robert Forrester, chief executive of Vertu Motors, told The Telegraph that the government's Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate is creating a "nasty vicious circle of discounting" that bears no relation to free-market capitalism. He warned that the targets are harming the economy by reducing apprenticeships, job opportunities, and new car sales, ultimately providing a negative environmental benefit.
EV Adoption on the Rise
Despite the criticism, the number of EVs on UK roads continues to grow. According to the Department for Transport (DfT), 2,012,000 battery-electric vehicles were licensed for use in the UK as of December 2025. RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis noted that it took around 14 years to reach one million EVs, but only two more years to double that figure. He attributed the growth to wider availability, the electric car grant, and high fuel prices.
However, Dennis highlighted that drivers who cannot charge at home or regularly exceed their EV's range still face a significant premium at public chargers. He suggested reducing VAT on public charging to match domestic electricity rates as a sensible next step.
ZEV Mandate Targets
EVs currently make up 26.2% of the new vehicle market, well below the government-mandated 33% target. By 2030, the ZEV mandate target will rise to 80%, reaching 100% by 2035. Automakers that fail to meet these targets could face fines of around £12,000 per vehicle for every non-compliant car sold.
