Government Moves to Water Down Electric-Car Targets
The government is moving to soften the UK’s electric-vehicle sales targets, launching a consultation on relaxing the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate after lobbying from carmakers. Charging-infrastructure firms warned they could pull billions of pounds of planned investment if net-zero commitments are watered down. The move reopens a fight between industry, drivers and climate campaigners.
The mandate requires carmakers to sell a rising share of electric vehicles each year or face penalties, and manufacturers have argued the targets are unrealistic given softer-than-hoped demand and the price gap with petrol cars. Easing them would relieve the industry but risks slowing the rollout of chargers and the shift to cleaner transport, and providers of charging points warn that watering down the commitment would undermine the case for their investment. Ministers must weigh the health of a struggling car sector against climate goals and the interests of drivers weighing whether to go electric. Consumer groups warn that any backsliding could keep running costs higher for longer. The consultation will set the terms of the fight. Watch where the targets land and how industry responds.