It’s official, the UK now has the most ambitious regulatory framework in the world for making the switch to electric vehicles (EVs). New laws, which commenced earlier this year, set out the amount of new zero emission vehicles, specifically cars and vans, that must be sold every year leading up to 2030.
What are these percentages you ask? By 2030, out of all the vehicles sold in Great Britain, 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans will have to be zero emission vehicles. By 2035, this will then rise to 100%.
This comes as part of the UK government’s goal to have all new cars be zero emission vehicles by 2035, reducing the nation’s negative impact on climate change in the process. But the benefits of this don’t stop there. EV drivers could also have cheaper running costs, while the UK is set to make big investments in battery development and manufacturing, electric motors, and more.
The current landscape of zero emission vehicles in the UK
So, if the government is planning to have 100% new electric cars by 2035, what does that mean for petrol and diesel drivers now? What will happen to petrol cars after 2035? And when will electric cars be mandatory? While owning a zero emission vehicle won’t be mandatory come 2035, you’ll struggle to buy a brand-new petrol or diesel car by this time. The plan is for all new cars and vans sold in Britain to be 100% electric.
However, as well as being a law-abiding Brit, there are some pretty great incentives to going electric too, not to mention the expansion of the EV charging structure making switching easier than ever.
Electric vehicles and the law
The zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate is the pathway to getting all new cars and vans fully electric by 2035. This strategy not only works towards reducing transportation’s carbon emissions, but it’s also set to make EV drivers’ lives easier, with new legislation soon to come forcing councils to create strategies for local EV charging. This will ensure plans are put in place for EV charging infrastructure across the country. The Department for Transport (DfT) also claims that local transport authorities will need to ensure charging points are provided as part of updates to local transport plans.
We’re helping local councils support their residents and stay connected for good, delivering sustainable and affordable EV charging for both everyday drivers and fleets. Read more on how we’re empowering communities (and powering up streets) with our EV charging facilities here.
While this is all well and good for EV owners, what will happen to petrol cars after 2035? For drivers of ICE vehicles (those with internal combustion engines), you’ll be relieved to know that existing petrol and diesel cars will still be allowed on the roads. What’s more, you’ll still be able to buy and sell them second-hand. The zero emission vehicle mandate only applies to new vehicles.
Grants and incentives for EV drivers
Amongst the fight against climate change and the zero emission vehicle mandate, it’s safe to say that EVs are here to stay. But for those who still need convincing, there are also a number of fantastic grants and incentives to going electric.
One top incentive is that EV drivers can dodge Vehicle Excise Duty (otherwise known as road tax) until March 2025. Another perk is the exemption from LEZ and ULEZ charges, and a 100% discount on the Congestion Charge in London (up to December 2025) - just check that your EV meets the criteria for this generous Congestion Charge discount.
Sparked your interest? You can find out more on these benefits through our guide ‘Understanding Electric Vehicle Tax Benefits in the UK’.
With this push to get more eco-friendly vehicles on the road, the need for smart EV infrastructure will also grow. The government has already invested heavily in expanding EV charging infrastructure, which grew a whopping 42% from the year 2022 to 2023.
On top of this, there’s also a Rapid Charging Fund (RCF), which is planned to be used on expensive grid connections, and ultimately help to enable a viable, ultra-rapid charging network.
New EV charging regulations also came into play in late October last year to make EV charging easier and more reliable across the country.
These new electric vehicle charging regulations in the UK will ensure that many new public chargepoints will have contactless payment options, be more transparent on pricing, as well as make themselves easier to locate on online maps.
In addition to this, the government’s ‘Taking charge: the electric vehicle infrastructure strategy’ shows that the plan for last year was to accelerate the rollout of high-powered rapid chargers, adding more of these to motorways.
However, as promising as these EV charging regulations and infrastructure strategies are, implementing them hasn’t come without its challenges.
Chargepoint installers can sometimes require a lot of nods from different people, in the form of permissions, licences and consents - all adding time and money to a project. Another issue the government calls out in their ‘Taking charge’ strategy is that certain areas of the UK (especially the more remote places) don’t have the network capacity to run these chargepoints.
The automotive industry response to EV expansion
So, that’s on the government’s efforts to push the zero emission vehicle revolution - now what’s the automotive industry doing about it? One thing’s for certain, there’s now a focus on the UK’s EV manufacturing abilities.
Last year, EV production began at Stellantis’s very swish, EV-exclusive Cheshire factory. Meanwhile, last July the UK car industry’s biggest factory (owned by Jaguar Land Rover’s Tata) was confirmed for construction in Somerset, set to create electric car batteries.
On top of this, there are a tonne of shiny new EV models launching this year, including the Mercedes-Benz EQB, the Chevrolet Silverado Electric Truck, and more. Check out our list of the best electric cars available in the UK in 2024 to find out more.
Should I buy an EV now or wait?
When it comes to the question of ‘should I buy an electric car now or wait?’ UK drivers will have to judge that for themselves.
Ultimately, whether or not you should buy a zero emission vehicle is a matter of personal preference (we’re team EV for so many reasons!).
When thinking about switching, as well as considering the great environmental benefits, it might help to consider factors like the cost of owning your current car compared to what it would be for an EV, the vehicle’s range, the charging components you’d need, and the prospective resale value of it.
Join the movement towards cleaner roads. Embrace zero emission vehicles today.
Ready to join the zero emission vehicle revolution? Sure, we get that switching over can seem like a faff, but once you’ve converted, you might find that the benefits make up for it.
What’s more, we’re with you every charge of the way! With the Connected Kerb app, you can easily access thousands of UK chargepoints. Simply choose a chargepoint near you, scan the QR code and charge.
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