Government sets out path to zero emission vehicles by 2035 - GOV.UK
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80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain set to be zero emission by 2030, increasing to 100% by 2035. From:
and
Published
28 September 2023
This was published under the
2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government
government sets out path for all new cars to be zero emission by 2035, providing clarity to manufacturers while safeguarding
UK
jobs
proportionate approach to net zero will enable drivers to benefit from the rapidly-expanding charging infrastructure, which has already grown 43% on last year
drive to electric vehicles has been backed by over £2 billion government investment – supporting economic growth and thousands of highly-skilled jobs
The government has today (28 September 2023) set out the percentage of new zero emission cars manufacturers will be required to produce each year up to 2030, following the Prime Minister’s proportionate and pragmatic decision to delay the ban on new diesel and petrol cars from 2030 to 2035. The path will support manufacturers and families in making the switch to electric, providing flexibility while also helping grow the economy. The
unveiled today means the country will have the most ambitious regulatory framework for the switch to electric vehicles (
EVs
) in the world. This requires 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain to be zero emission by 2030, increasing to 100% by 2035. The 2035 end of sale date puts the
UK
in line with other major global economies, including France, Germany, Sweden and Canada. The move provides certainty for manufacturers and will help families make the switch to electric by providing more time for the second-hand
EV
market to grow and charging to roll out more widely across the country. The plans provide investors with confidence to invest in charging infrastructure – with 43% more public chargepoints this year than last, putting the country well on track for the government’s target of 300,000 chargepoints by 2030. The country is making strong progress on its world-leading ambition to phase out new fossil fuel vehicles, backed by more than £2 billion in government investment. Latest industry figures show 20% of new cars sold in August were zero emission, and there are now 48,100 public chargepoints, in addition to chargepoints installed in homes where most charging takes place. Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, said:
The path to zero emission vehicles announced today makes sure the route to get there is proportionate, pragmatic and realistic for families. Our mandate provides certainty for manufacturers, benefits drivers by providing more options and helps grow the economy by creating skilled jobs. We are also making it easier than ever to own an electric vehicle, from reaching record levels of chargepoints to providing tax relief for
EV
owners. The government has also introduced several schemes to lower the upfront and running costs of owning an
EV
. This includes a
of up to £2,500 for small vans and £5,000 for large vans until at least 2025 and £350 off the cost of
. This is in addition to
EVs
being cheaper to run than petrol and diesel cars, with research showing that electric cars are around £150 cheaper to maintain a year. Jakob Pfaudler,
AA
CEO
, said:
Our customers want to see both government action and realism in the move to electric vehicles as part of an ambitious drive to net zero. This means having certainty and a combination of the right information, infrastructure and incentives available to them. Today’s announcement brings welcome clarity to help support investment in
ZEVs
and associated technologies and industries. Over time, and as part of a wider set of policies, it will help the
UK
’s motorists manage the transition and the
AA
will be working to give confidence to drivers during this period. The used car market also continues to grow, providing more affordable options for drivers. In the first quarter of 2023, compared with the same period in 2022, used battery electric vehicle sales rose by 57%. The measures give the wide range of manufacturers flexibility through a trading scheme, enabling them to bank compliance in years when they exceed annual targets for use in future years or trade them with other manufacturers that have fallen short. In the first year, car manufacturers can borrow for up to 75% of their annual target, falling to 25% in 2026, to support them in the early stages. The
ZEV
mandate is a devolved policy and has been developed with the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland’s Department for Infrastructure. Recent investment by major manufacturers has shown the
UK
is a world-leading country for the automotive sector. BMW
has announced its intention to invest over £600 million in its
UK
factories, including a multimillion-pound investment to transform its Oxford plant, securing 4,000 high-quality jobs and strengthening the electric vehicle supply chain. This followed other major investments, including £4 billion from Tata to build a new gigafactory in the
UK
, and £1 billion from Nissan and
AESC
to create an
EV
manufacturing hub in Sunderland. Mike Hawes, Chief Executive, The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said:
The automotive industry is investing billions in decarbonisation and recognises the importance of the zero emission vehicle mandate as the single most important measure to deliver net zero. We welcome the clarity the mandate’s publication provides for the next 6 years and the flexibilities it contains to support pragmatic, equitable delivery across this diverse sector.
Manufacturers offer a vast range of zero emission vehicles, but demand must also match supply – that means making
ZEVs
affordable by incentivising drivers to make the switch now and delivering the infrastructure to meet consumer expectations. The government is working at pace alongside private investment to grow charging infrastructure for
EV
drivers, supporting record installment rates this past month. Applications also recently opened for the first round of the government’s £381 million
, which will support the installation of tens of thousands of new chargers across the country, increasing
EV
infrastructure in every area and ensuring the
UK
’s charging network can support the increasing number of
EV
drivers and those considering the switch. This is on top of significant private investments, with the
UK
now home to Europe’s largest electric vehicle charging site in Birmingham and over £6 billion committed by ChargeUK members with an ambition to double the
UK
’s charging network by the end of this year. A recent report from the National Infrastructure Commission points out, if chargepoint deployment grows at around 30% per year the 300,000 expectation will be met. With transport providing the largest share of the
UK
’s carbon emissions, the switch to zero emission cars and vans will be the single biggest carbon saving measure in the
UK
’s journey to net zero. Roads media enquiries
Media enquiries 0300 7777 878
Switchboard 0300 330 3000
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Published 28 September 2023
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