ZEV mandate clarity or yet more delay?

The Government has pledged to introducing an ‘ambitious’ Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate from 2024 with a new consultation, while also including e-fuels in the 2035 ICE ban.

By Natalie Middleton

The consultation – announced as part of the new ‘Powering Up Britain – The Net Zero Growth Plan’ – seeks views on the final proposed regulatory framework and will help finalise the design of the ZEV mandate and CO2 emissions regulation.

The long-awaited legislation will require carmakers to have a minimum percentage of their new car sales as zero emission to help drive net zero goals through increased electric vehicle take-up.

Importantly, the consultation retains the same trajectory figures for cars –despite fears they’d be watered down –and actually increases them for vans.

The legislation will cover the 2024-2030 period; further legislation spanning the years to the 2035 ICE ban will be introduced at a later point.

The ZEV mandate was first announced in 2021’s UK Transport Decarbonisation Plan and the Government committed to introducing it from 2024 in the Net Zero Strategy later that year. But while it opened a technical consultation in April 2022, there had been no further updates since, despite hopes for an announcement in the Autumn Statement.

The Government has also reaffirmed its commitment to cease the sale of new ICE vehicles by 2030 and confirmed that it’s not looking to factor in e-fuels, despite the change of plan seen within the European Union.

A DfT spokesperson said: “E-fuels are not proven technology, have expensive and complex supply chains, and emit much of the same pollutants as petrol and diesel. They might have a role for specialist vehicles, but we are not looking at them as a solution for normal cars and vans.”

CONTINUED LACK OF CLARITY ON ‘WATERSHED REGULATION’

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) welcomed the long-awaited consultation on a “watershed regulation” for the UK new car and van market.

Chief executive Mike Hawes said: “We want regulation that gives consumers choice and affordability, and enables manufacturers to transition sustainably and competitively.”

But he added: “While the proposals rightly reflect the sector’s diversity, late publication and lack of regulatory certainty make product planning near impossible, and the continued lack of clarity as to what technologies will be permitted beyond 2030 undermines attempts to secure investment.”

The BVRLA said the new ZEV mandate consultation showed that the Government had “delivered essential clarity and certainty for the fleet and mobility services sector and its supply chain”.

Chief executive Gerry Keaney commented: “The ZEV mandate is a critical tool in the UK meeting its ambitious net zero targets. The clarity given will

give fleets and motorists the confidence to continue their decarbonisation journey and accelerate the transition to zero emission transport.”

The association added that the Government had also responded to its request to make the zero-emission van sales target trajectory more ambitious, with much less reliance on hybrid vehicles.

“We look forward to working with the Government as it implements this mandate and monitors the impact on the new vehicle market,” Keaney added.

MORE MONEY FOR CHARGE POINTS

Other announcements in the Powering Up Britain plans included the launch of the £381m Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund alongside an additional £15m for the On-Street Residential Charging Scheme (ORCS).

The DfT said the funding 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”.

The Government also published its response to the 2021 consultation on consumer experience at public charge points, confirming it will impose requirements on public charge points concerning the methods of payment and reliability, and that it will appoint an appropriate body to enforce the new regulations.