You’ve probably heard a lot about the UK moving towards electric vehicles, but one of the biggest drivers of that shift is something called the ZEV mandate. It’s a policy that requires car manufacturers to sell a certain percentage of zero-emission vehicles each year - and the targets are rising fast.
What is the ZEV Mandate?
The ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle) mandate is a government policy aimed at cutting carbon emissions from the transport sector. It requires manufacturers to ensure that a certain percentage of the new vehicles they sell each year are fully zero-emission, meaning electric or hydrogen-powered.
The long-term goal is to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars entirely by 2035. This is part of the UK’s broader push to reach net-zero emissions.
What’s Changed This Year?
In January 2024, the ZEV mandate officially came into effect. The targets for this year are:
- 22% of new car sales must be zero-emission
- 10% of new van sales must be zero-emission
These targets will rise each year until they reach 100% by 2035. Manufacturers who fail to meet the annual target could face penalties of up to £15,000 per vehicle over the limit.
Who’s Affected?
Manufacturers are under pressure to shift their production and sales strategies quickly. Those who don’t meet the targets may need to buy credits from other manufacturers who exceed them, or face fines.
For consumers, the good news is more electric vehicles will be available, potentially at better prices as competition and supply grow. Fleet buyers and commercial operators will also need to keep up with the changes as they plan future vehicle investments.