Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to cut sales targets for electric vehicles (EVs), launching a consultation on reducing the proportion of new zero-emission vehicles to 50 per cent by 2030, down from the current 80 per cent. The move comes as EV sales rates fail to meet existing targets, despite growing popularity.
Under current rules, a third of car sales and 25 per cent of van sales must be electric. Mr Burnham will also reportedly explore changing the date for a ban on new vehicles with internal combustion engines from 2035, according to The Telegraph.
Consultation on EV targets and petrol car ban
The Prime Minister's consultation will examine lowering the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate targets, which were designed to accelerate the transition to electric motoring. The proposed reduction to 50 per cent by 2030 represents a significant shift from the original 80 per cent ambition, reflecting concerns about sales performance.
Additionally, Mr Burnham is considering adjusting the timeline for phasing out new petrol and diesel cars, potentially pushing back the 2035 deadline. This would mark a departure from the previously announced ban, which aimed to end the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles by that year.
Plug-in hybrid rules under review
The Telegraph reports that Mr Burnham's treatment of plug-in hybrid cars could also change. This may include more efforts to encourage frequent recharging instead of excessive reliance on their petrol engines, addressing concerns that some drivers are not fully utilising the electric capabilities of their vehicles.
These potential policy shifts come as the automotive industry grapples with the challenge of meeting ambitious EV sales targets while consumer demand remains below expectations.
Industry and environmental reactions
Colin Walker, Head of Transport at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), defended the current ZEV mandate, stating: “The ZEV mandate is doing exactly what it was designed to do: driving competition between manufacturers, bringing down the cost of new EVs, growing the second-hand market, and helping more and more drivers end their exposure to expensive petrol prices by making the shift to electric driving.”
He added: “Despite calls from parts of the industry for the Government to weaken its EV sales target, the majority of MPs recognise that sticking to the 2030 phase-out is necessary if the savings that come from EV ownership are to be accessible for all British households.”
Blanche Shackleton, interim Executive Director of Green Alliance, urged the government to maintain ambition, saying: “Climate-fuelled wildfires are engulfing Europe, the price of oil is surging again, and Chinese manufacturers are knocking on the door.”
She continued: “The signs are clear that Andy Burnham’s government must double down on the switch to electric vehicles to deliver lower costs for households and businesses while driving investment in a futureproofed UK automotive industry. The Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate is working and its ambition must be maintained.”
The consultation will determine the future of EV sales targets and the 2035 ban, with implications for manufacturers, consumers, and the UK's climate goals.
