UK Government launches consultation to cut 2030 targets on electric vehicles

The government's proposal to cut the 2030 ZEV mandate target to as low as 50% is a serious blow to drivers, investors and the future of the UK's automotive industry. Only last year, the Secretary of State rightly criticised the previous government for moving the goalposts, warning that it had caused "significant harm", created "doubt in the minds of investors" and put billions of pounds of investment at risk. Now, this government appears ready to repeat exactly the same mistake.

Weakening the mandate would mean up to three million fewer electric vehicles on UK roads by the end of the decade. At a time when petrol and diesel prices remain high and volatile, electric vehicles offer drivers cheaper, more predictable motoring costs. Pressing ahead with these plans would potentially leave millions more households exposed to expensive and volatile fossil fuels, while undermining confidence in the very policies needed to secure investment and protect the future of Britain's automotive industry.

Anna Krajinska, T&E UK Director, said:

‘’The Government is reopening this consultation at the worst point in the climate crisis seen across the UK and the wider world. Record temperatures, wildfires and worsening air pollution make it harder than ever to justify weakening the policy set to deliver the biggest single cut in emissions across the economy.

Ed Miliband has rightly described climate change as a national security issue, yet the Government is caving in to car industry lobbying and gambling with the future of British car manufacturing to cover up its failure to deliver a credible automotive industrial strategy. Slashing the 2030 electric vehicle target would leave Britain behind in the global electric race, put investment and jobs at risk, and mean up to three million fewer electric cars on our roads, locking drivers into years of expensive and volatile petrol and diesel prices.''

The ZEV mandate was designed to give investors certainty and keep the UK competitive. Weakening it now risks jobs, investment and energy security, just when we need bold policy, not backtracking.