Furthermore, the government may be intending to weaken the policy, with the deadline being reset to 2034 rather than 2030.
It is worth noting that the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and the Unite trade union have continually called for reductions in the mandate, on the basis of protecting jobs in the automotive industry. The present uncertainty, giving some figures in the industry, and elsewhere, the impression that the government is about to buckle in the face of such calls, is now creating concerned discussion, including among some Labour MPs fearing a change in the government’s commitment to green issues.
The outcome is not, currently, certain, with First Secretary of State Louise Haigh due to meet with officials from the Department for Transport, the Department for Energy Security and Net-Zero, and the Department for Business and Trade on Wednesday, according to a report in The Guardian.
Some fear that she will agree a cut to EV sales of around a quarter.
Analysis from trade association BEAMA, released in August, suggests that changes to the ZEV Mandate could delay investment in EV home charge point sales and installations of up to £1.56 billion (US$2.45 billion).
“This is speculation at this stage, and we need to see what the Government actually proposes” said Delvin Lane, CEO of InstaVolt, the UK’s largest ultra-rapid charging network. “We recognise there is a balance to be struck between protecting jobs in the automotive industry and maintaining ambitious targets for the transition. But let’s be clear: charging infrastructure is not the problem. The industry needs to stop using it as an excuse for weakening the rules. We are delivering infrastructure ahead of schedule, investing billions and building a network ready to support more drivers making the switch. Almost one in three new cars sold in October was fully electric. The market is moving, and drivers can have confidence that the charging infrastructure is there and will continue to grow. What businesses need now is certainty, not another round of shifting goalposts.”
“The Government seems to be listening to car manufacturers but not the rest of the EV sector and especially not the people actually buying and driving electric cars” added Vicky Edmonds, Chief Executive Officer of EVA England. “Our latest survey shows that 38 percent of electric car drivers have lost confidence because of recent Government announcements. All the while nearly half of petrol and diesel drivers we surveyed would switch to electric if the barriers holding them back were removed. The demand is there. The problem is that too much time is being spent arguing over targets instead of making these cars work for poeple. Government needs to stop moving the goalposts, start listening to drivers and focus on making electric cars work for everyone.”
For additional information:
Closed consultation: Department for Transport (DfT) Zero emission vehicle mandate review
