Announced at the start of 2024, the UK government finalised a new law stating their pathway to zero-emission vehicles by 2035.
Alongside goals set by ridesharing apps such as Uber, the Zero Emissions Mandate is set to change the way new cars are bought and sold in the United Kingdom.
We give a brief overview of the law, and what it means for UK roads in the coming decade.
The Road to Net Zero
As the world looks at ways of moving away from fossil fuels, governments around the globe are setting out their net-zero strategies.
Net zero means countries will offset their carbon emissions with schemes and incentives, like planting trees and carbon capture.
Although this does not mean countries will necessarily reduce emissions, however they won’t be putting more carbon into the world than they’re removing.
New laws and mandates are being introduced around the world to help guide changes needed to limit the effects of human-caused climate change.
What is the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate?
Backed by £2 billion of existing investment, the Zero Emission Mandate is the current UK government’s plan to expand charging infrastructure and incentivise electric vehicle (EV) purchases by 2035.
The timeline is split into two steps:
By 2030, 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain will be zero emission.
By 2035, 100% of all new cars and vans sold in the UK will be zero emission.
What Does This Mean For UK Drivers?
Puting it simply simply, anyone looking for a new car in 2030 will be hard-pressed to find a petrol, diesel or hybrid engine.
The number of registered EVs has already increased 56% on 2022 numbers, indicating increased demand.
From July to September of 2023 alone, 17% of newly registered vehicles were EVs according to the government’s 2023 licensing statistics.
Generally, more EVs mean less air pollution from exhausts, as well as lower traffic noise.
Unfortunately there is little information regarding the second-hand market. However, V12 Vehicle Finance believes that used EV demand will increase in the next 3 to 4 years as fleets begin to replace their existing EVs.
How Will the Government Help You Make the Switch to Electric?
Not yet convinced to make the switch to EV? At the moment the government has a few incentives to change your mind.
From now until 2025, drivers of small plug-in vans can claim up to £2,500 off the cost of the purchase price. This rises to up to £5,000 for larger plug-in vans. The discounts are subject to conditions – more information here.
If you live in a flat or rent your home, access to charging points can be more tricky. “EV chargepoint grants” are available to offset some of the costs associated with installing a chargepoint at home.
Check your eligibility as a renter here. Further guidance for landlords here.
If you drive a moped or motorcycle, you could be entitled to a discount on a new EV model, with discounts ranging from up to £150 for mopeds and £500 for motorcycles.
There are conditions such as list price and mileage between charges, so always check with your local dealer if these are available to you.
The UK Charging Network
Recent news from New York City has shown overcrowding and long wait times at chargepoints around the city. Some Ev drivers reported waiting up to 90 minutes to plug in.
To combat potentially similar scenes, the UK has committed to building 300,00 charge points by 2030. That’s almost 5 times the number of current petrol pumps on our roads. This potentially means that charging your EV will become easier than filling up.
The Government intends to invest over £1 billion in the next decade to continue strengthening the UK’s charging network.
Current supporters include Nissan, BMW and Ford who are all investing billions of pounds in their own EV manufacturing.
You can read more about the rollout of EV infrastructure here.
In Conclusion
The UK’s Zero Emission Mandate will see huge changes on UK roads. Originally set for 2030, the law will see new sales of all petrol and diesel cars banned by 2035.
There are several schemes already in place with rideshare apps such as Uber. Uber Green offers passengers an emission-free ride at no extra cost. Uber aims for all rides to be zero-emission by 2025, with 10% higher driver tips for those driving an EV.
Even filling up at the pump is set for huge change. More money than ever before is being invested into plug-in and chargepoints at home and on the roads.
Thinking of switching to electric as a Private Hire driver? Check out our Private Hire insurance for EVs.
