UK EV Mandate: Government poised to slash 2030 sales target

London ministers are set to approve a major reduction in the United Kingdom's electric vehicle sales targets this week.

Louise Haigh, who serves as the de facto deputy prime minister, will finalize the plan following a Wednesday meeting at Downing Street. The decision resolves a dispute between the transport, energy, and business departments. Sources indicate the headline 2030 target for electric car sales will drop from 80 percent to roughly 60 percent. The government will also extend flexibility measures in the targets until 2034.

This adjustment eases pressure on British carmakers but alarms Labour Members of Parliament. Many fear the change undermines the party's commitment to its green agenda. The policy is regarded as the government's largest decarbonization initiative. Lizzi Collinge, the Labour MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, stated the decision on the zero emission vehicle mandate will have a huge climate impact. She described it as possibly the biggest item on the prime minister's desk.

Catherine Fookes, the MP for Monmouthshire, argued that the ZEV mandate must stay and that the Rosebank oilfield should be rejected. A government spokesperson maintained that no final decisions have been taken. The spokesperson reaffirmed the pledge to phase out new cars relying solely on petrol and diesel engines by 2030. The goal remains 100 percent zero emission new car and van sales by 2035.

The current rules, introduced by the previous Conservative government, require carmakers to sell only electric vehicles by 2035. The proportion rises gradually to 80 percent by 2030. This policy is expected to deliver greater emissions savings than any other measure. It accounts for nearly 14 percent of the reductions the UK has pledged between 2028 and 2032. Carmakers have long argued that interim targets are unattainable due to inflation and squeezed living standards.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reports that the industry will miss this year's 33 percent target by a wide margin. Battery electric vehicles accounted for 26.6 percent of new car sales in the first 10 months of the year. Mike Hawes, the SMMT chief executive, said the gap between demand and mandated targets continues to widen. He insisted that meaningful change to the trajectory was essential to safeguard jobs and investment.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has recused himself from the decision because his wife advises the board of Be.EV, a Manchester-based electric vehicle charging network. He prepares to travel to his first COP summit as prime minister. There, he and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband intend to champion electrification on a global scale. Government insiders say Haigh will probably sign off a 2030 target of about 60 percent. She has told colleagues she does not want them returning in the future to demand another reduction. Shane Brennan, chief executive of ChargeUK, warned that weakening the mandate puts £1.7 billion of charging infrastructure at risk. Paul McNamee, director of the Labour Climate and Environment Forum, said a significant weakening would be seen as a rowing back on climate leadership.