Labour outlines major changes to electric car targets despite massive industry backlash

Labour has announced changes to its electric car targets in a bid to change the "pathway to reach zero emission driving by 2035" with the launch of a new consultation.

The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate outlines that a certain percentage of new car sales must be powered by an electric powertrain.

Under original plans, manufacturers needed to have 33 per cent of sales come from zero emission sources, with further goals of 80 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent in 2035.

Labour has now launched a consultation on the ZEV mandate, which will include questions on how the UK can meet the 2030 deadline to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles.

It outlined that it had a "long-standing" commitment to review the ZEV mandate by 2027, and has invited the industry to respond to its consultation.

Terms included in the consultation suggest that the 80 per cent target for 2030 could be maintained, or reduced to 70 per cent, 60 per cent, or 50 per cent.

It could also be kept at 80 per cent with flexibilities, including trading credits, to be extended until 2034.

Similarly, the 70 per cent sales target for vans for 2030 could be maintained, or reduced to 60 per cent, 50 per cent or 40 per cent.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander noted that electric car sales remained strong, with more than 160,000 drivers making use of the Government's Electric Car Grant.

Despite this, she said it was "right" that targets were kept under review to "ensure they're practical and back British industry".

"The end goal hasn't changed - but we need to take business with us on the journey, and that's exactly what we're doing today, by making sure industry has the chance to shape how we get there," she added.

The ZEV mandate consultation has launched today (August 14) and will run until October 23, with the Government expected to act on the feedback provided over the following months.

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In response to the plans, Tanya Sinclair, CEO of Electric Vehicles UK, said: "There is a remarkable cognitive dissonance in a Government who is asking whether we should extend the availability of polluting vehicles amid our hottest summer on record.

"It hasn't rained for weeks, our ground is parched, air quality is poor. Electric vehicles are the most powerful public health and climate change intervention we have to mitigate these changes, as much as we’re able.

"And to top it off, they are cheaper to buy and drive, and fantastically equipped with the latest tech. It's all upside, so why isn't this government doing everything in its power to enable their uptake?"

This was echoed by Gurjeet Grewal, CEO of Octopus Electric Vehicles, who stated that the ZEV mandate was working, and that any changes to the policy could "send exactly the wrong message".

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