Thank you to everyone who has contacted me about the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate.
I believe the future of driving in the UK is electric. One in four new cars sold in Britain is now an EV, meaning over two million vehicles on our roads are now powered by electricity. This demonstrates how the transition to cleaner transport continues to gather pace.
British car makers and charge point operators are investing billions of pounds in the EV transition, which is being backed up by a further £7.5 billion from the Government. This includes the Electric Car Grant, which has helped over 160,000 people make the switch to an EV, saving them an average of £1,400 on running costs. I welcome that this is putting money back in people’s pockets.
I appreciate your concerns around the Government’s decision to consult on a review of the ZEV Mandate. This delivers on a promise to keep the mandate under review as it progresses. Ministers have been clear the end goal has not changed and the ZEV Mandate will still require zero-emission vehicle sales to reach 100% by 2035.
Manufacturers are on track to meet their 2025 target and have flexibilities built in to help them do so. But by reviewing the policy now, it will ensure the right balance is maintained to meet the mandate’s ambitious target. Ministers have said that if we accept that zero emissions is the destination, the Government must partner with industry to get there, and the rethink will shape how we reach that goal. This is important to ensure the mandate is practical and supports British industry so that we can achieve growth in every postcode.
I further welcome the Government maintaining ongoing engagement across a wide range of stakeholders who have an interest in electric vehicles and the ZEV Mandate. This includes the automotive and electric vehicle charging sectors, industry bodies, environmental organisations, consumer groups, and NGOs.
More widely, I welcome the Government’s £600 million investment to roll out more charge points. This builds on the 120,000 already available on the public network and over a million in homes and workplaces. In addition, £400 million is already being used to deliver more than 100,000 more public charge points across the UK.
The consultation on the ZEV Mandate is open until 23 October 2026, and I would encourage you to submit your views by clicking here.
Thank you once again to everyone who contacted me about this important issue.