EV industry warns UK Government against weakening ZEV mandate
By Eve
More than 40 organisations from the charging, fleet, battery manufacturing and investment sectors have warned the UK Government that changes to the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate could affect billions of pounds of investment across the automotive and infrastructure supply chain. The current mandate requires 33% of new cars sold in 2026 to be pure electric, rising to 80% by 2030, but the Government is reportedly preparing a consultation on relaxing the framework, potentially reducing the 2030 requirement to as low as 50%. Polling by Savanta for the Climate Barometer Tracker found that 54% of Labour MPs support the planned 2030 phase out of new petrol and diesel car sales, compared with 17% who oppose it.
Why it matters: Any weakening of the ZEV Mandate could slow the rollout of charging infrastructure by reducing certainty around future EV adoption rates, potentially deterring the billions in private investment needed to meet 2030 targets. Charge point operators and infrastructure developers rely on clear policy signals to justify capital expenditure and site acquisition decisions.