The zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate and CO2 emissions regulation for new cars and vans in the UK will be announced shortly.


The Madate will bring needed clarity to the Government’s position and timelines to zero emissions in road transport, particularly in light of the recent decision to push back the deadline for sake of new ICE vehicles.


The zero emission car targets from 2024 to 2030 are unchanged, wit the following targets:
2025: 28%
2026: 33%
2027: 38%
2028: 52%
2029: 66%
2030: 80%


Also unchanged are the indicative zero emission car targets from 2030 to 2035
2031: 84%*
2032: 88%*
2033: 92%*
2034: 96%*
2035: 100%*
*to be confirmed later in separate legislation


The first actual changes comes in what the Government counts as a “zero-emission vehicle”. This was to be emitting no CO2 or any other targeted greenhouse gases at the exhaust and have a minimum range of 120 miles. This range will now be reduced to 100 miles, allowing for greater number of vehicles to be included, such as short distance delivery or ‘town cars”.


Another, and widely reported change, is the Prime Minister’s announcement on net-zero allowing sales of any car up to 2035, not just “significant zero emission”.


There will also be some small changes to van targets, allowing a greater number of ICE vehicles to be produced, whilst “banking and borrowing” where car makers could “borrow” from expected future over-performance against targets up to 2027 stat as they were.


Richard Hebditch, UK director of Transport & Environment, said: “The zero emissions vehicle mandate will pretty much end sales of new petrol and diesel cars by the early 2030s. Four out of five of new cars sold will be zero emission by 2030 and that will increase in the following years meaning realistically, that most mass-market car makers are still working towards an all-electric future by the early 2030s.”

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