Originally written and published by Solar & Storage Xtra
The UK’s Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, and Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds recently met with automotive and charging industry representatives to discuss the 2030 phase-out of petrol and diesel vehicles and the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate.
Attendees included leaders from SMMT, Tesla, Nissan, Ford, Volkswagen Group, Stellantis, BMW, Toyota, ChargeUK, and BVRLA.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to the 2030 ban on new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and emphasized delivering the ZEV transition in a way that promotes UK economic growth.
Details on implementation will follow, including a consultation on how the phase-out will apply to cars and vans. The ZEV Mandate requires 22% of cars and 10% of vans sold in the UK this year to be electric, with annual targets tightening until 2030.
Manufacturers face penalties for non-compliance, prompting concerns from some in the automotive sector about the need for stronger incentives to support the transition.
A government spokesperson stated, “Ministers have met with automotive and industry representatives to discuss the EV transition and how the government can support the sector’s growth.
“The UK now leads Europe in zero-emission vehicle growth, with over £2.3bn invested to support this transition and an average of 57 new public chargers installed daily.”
Vicky Read, CEO of ChargeUK, highlighted the charging industry’s progress: “ChargeUK members are installing a new charge point every 25 minutes and are committed to investing over £6 billion by 2030.
Uncertainty threatens this progress, but we welcome the forthcoming consultation and advocate for a strong ZEV mandate.”
Dominic Phinn, Head of Transport at Climate Group, expressed support for the mandate: “This tool has placed the UK at the forefront of the global EV transition. Automakers must seize this opportunity to scale up or risk falling behind.”
Sign up to MOVEMNT’s free newsletter for the hottest mobility news and exclusive MOVE event updates
