ZEV sales mandate included as part of new Government strategy

The Government has today published its Net Zero Strategy. Ahead of COP26 and building on the Prime Minister’s 10-point plan, the strategy sets a clear pathway of how the Government will meet its net zero commitment by 2050.

The strategy covers how the UK will remove carbon from power, removing gas boilers from our homes and through transport decarbonisation – promoting more active travel and use of public transport as well as cutting all tailpipe emissions.  

One of the key transport policy proposals confirms that the Government will introduce a zero-emission vehicle mandate, setting targets for a percentage of manufacturers' new car and van sales to be zero emission each year from 2024. This will deliver on its 2030 commitment to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, and 2035 commitment that all cars must be fully zero emissions capable.  

The Government believes that the mandate will guarantee a greater number of zero emission vehicles (ZEV) on UK roads, unlocking the transformation of our road transport. In support of this, the Government has committed an additional £620m to support the transition to electric vehicles, with specific references to more tailored vehicle grants and funding for electric vehicle infrastructure.  

The ZEV sales mandate was a proposal set out in the Government’s recent consultation on new road vehicle CO2 emissions regulatory framework which the BVRLA responded to. The BVRLA’s response included the importance of safeguards, such as including a market review mechanism to assess the scheme’s impact and recognising a tailored approach for vans with exemptions for more specialist vehicles.    

The Government will be consulting early next year on the finer details of the mandate, including:  

  • the design of the ZEV mandate (including uptake trajectories) and CO2 emissions regulation (as a backstop to ensure standards in the remainder of the fleet are maintained); and  

  • how and when targets will be set and enforced. 

The BVRLA will continue to work closely with the Government as it looks to develop the design of the ZEV mandate to ensure that this supports the needs of its members. 

Further details about how the additional £620m to support the transition to electric vehicles will be tailored are expected in next week’s Autumn Budget and Spending Review, with grants for private charging infrastructure and a targeted top-up of the Plug-in Grant forming two of the BVRLA’s key spending asks

Also see the BVRLA’s press comment: The government must go further to win the EV Arms Race.