Timetable for zero emission vehicle transition becomes law

The UK government’s timetable for phasing out petrol and diesel powered cars and transitioning to zero emission vehicles by 2035 has become law.

Plans put forward a pathway for vehicle manufacturers to phase out production and sale of fossil fuel-powered cars and vans. By 2030 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain will now be zero emission by 2030, increasing to 100% by 2035. The country is also currently on target to reach 300,000 EV charging points by 2030, with a 44% increase in the number available during 2023 alone.

Technology and Decarbonisation Minister Anthony Browne said:

“Alongside us having spent more than £2 billion in the transition to electric vehicles, our zero emission vehicle mandate will further boost the economy and support manufacturers to safeguard skilled British jobs in the automotive industry.

“We are providing investment certainty for the charging sector to expand our charging network which has already grown by 44% since this time last year. This will support the constantly growing number of EVs in the UK, which currently account for over 16% of the new UK car market.“

The UK’s pathway for transitioning to electric vehicles becoming law follows the Prime Minister’s delay last year of the target for ending petrol, diesel, and hybrid car sales by five years from 2030 to 2035 to ensure charging infrastructure is in place to meet demand, and to ease the financial pressures on drivers of switching to electric vehicles. Government grant schemes are also in place to ease the upfront costs of new electric vans until 2025.