The Prime Minister is being urged to “stand firm” on the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) as reports suggest plans could be watered down.

The Government is introducing a so-called zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate from next year. 

UK manufacturers will need to ensure at least 22% of the cars they sell are battery electric vehicles (BEVs) by 2024, with the figure increasing to 80% in 2030, and 100% in 2035.

If a company misses the target, they will be made to pay the Government £15,000 for every vehicle that doesn't comply.

A consultation on the ZEV mandate plans, which were published by the Department for Transport (DfT) in March, was launched at the same time, but ministers are yet to respond after it closed in May. 

A report from Sky News suggests that business and trade secretary Kemi Badenoch is pushing back on the Government's plan to fine car manufacturers if they do not hit EV targets.

It comes as EV charge point operator (CPO) trade body, ChargeUK, says it has written to the PM, Rishi Sunak, urging him to “stand firm” on the ZEV mandate.

ChargeUK’s 23 members, which are investing more than £6 billion rolling out EV charging infrastructure between now and 2030, have warned that current policy uncertainty puts that investment in danger.

The organisation welcomed the Prime Minister’s commitment to 2030 as the start date for the phase out of petrol and diesel cars. 

But they highlighted the need for certainty to support investment, jobs and the wider transition to electric transport.

ChargeUK members warned that continued exponential growth must be underpinned by certainty.

The letter states: “Watering down the original ambitions of the ZEV mandate will mean billions of pounds of investment, thousands of new and green jobs and the supply of second hand EVs are put at risk.

“This EV supply and the resultant second hand EV market are vital to helping reduce the cost of driving for people across the country and can only be realised with a clear ZEV mandate.”

UK charging point installation growth on track 

Source: ZapMap, ‘EV Charging Statistics 2023’

Currently, the UK charging infrastructure is on track to deliver the Government’s targets of 300,000 chargers by 2030, with a year-on-year growth rate of 35% on average over the past three years.

Richard Hebditch, UK director of campaign group Transport and Environment, said: “It’s frankly ludicrous that some in government are even considering watering down the zero emissions car and van mandate.

“The mandate is designed to aid the industry to smoothly transition to electric vehicles at every stage of the process - manufacturing, charging infrastructure, battery production.” 

He concluded: “The biggest threat to planned investment comes from dither and delay, undermining trust and confidence in the UK from those considering investing in the battery supply chain and charging infrastructure.

“Prime Minister Sunak needs to send a clear and strong message to investors, and his own party by celebrating a success story with investments to support UK jobs that can deliver reductions in emissions - not undermining the very policies that create that success.”