UK government confirms pathway to 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales
December 05, 2023 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
The Department for Transport has set out the UK’s route to 100% of vehicles sold in the UK being zero emission by 2035. Read on for all you need to know.
UPDATE
The Labour Government has confirmed its plans to reinstate the 2030 deadline. Read more here: Government to reinstate 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars.
The UK government has announced plans to make sure all cars sold in Great Britain are zero emission by 2035. This comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the ban on new petrol and diesel cars would be pushed back from 2030 to 2035.
The new Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate unveiled today requires 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in the UK to be zero emission by 2030, rising to 100% by 2035. The 2035 deadline puts the UK in line with countries such as France, Germany, Sweden and Canada.
This mandate sets annual minimum targets for ZEV sales each year, starting at 22% of all cars sold in 2024 and rising year-on-year up to 100% in 2035. The Department for Transport says that this move will give the second-hand EV market more time to grow, making it easier for families to make the switch, while also allowing additional time to expand EV charging infrastructure.
In the UK, 43% more charging points were built this year compared to 2022, according to figures from the Department for Transport, meaning things are on track for the government’s target of 300,000 charge points by 2030.
Commenting on the new pathway, Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “Our mandate provides certainty for manufacturers, benefits drivers by providing more options and helps grow the economy by creating skilled jobs.
We are also making it easier than ever to own an electric vehicle, from reaching record levels of charge points to providing tax relief for EV owners.”
To entice more people into electric vans, the government is offering a plug-in van grant of up to £2,500 for small vans and £5,000 for large vans, which will continue until at least 2025. People living in flats can also apply for a £350 grant to install a home charging point.
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