New data has revealed that the UK is on target to reach its ZEV Mandate targets for this year.
According to the ZEV Mandate, 22% of all new cars sold in the UK must be zero emission this year.
Analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) projects that fully electric vehicles will represent around 19% of the new car market this year, with low-emission hybrids a further three per cent.
The ECIU’s head of transport Colin Walker said: “The mandate is having the desired effect of driving down costs and driving up sales, enabling more families to get behind the wheel of cleaner, cheaper-to-run cars.
“Some manufacturers have been slow to wake up to the global shift towards EVs and are being left behind, but many are ahead of the mandate targets. Lowering the UK’s EV ambitions by weakening the mandate would risk putting the UK car industry in the slow lane at a time when global competition is hotting up, and stalling billions of pounds of investment in charging infrastructure.
“Weakening the mandate will remove competition, prices could well increase, growth in EV sales will slow and expansion of the second-hand EV market will be held back, leaving people stuck driving dirtier and more expensive-to-run petrol cars for longer.”
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said: “While registrations of new electric vehicles are increasing, underlying demand is still significantly below expectations. This is forcing manufacturers to subsidise the transition to the tune of £4bn this year alone.
“Workable regulation – backed with incentives – will set us up for success and green growth over the next decade.”
