The Labour government is expected to reinstate the 2030 phase-out for new petrol and diesel cars, according to recent reports. This is in accordance with Labour’s manifesto promise and shows commitment to a zero-emissions future.
A spokesperson from the DfT stated: “We’re committed to delivering greener transport by supporting the transition to electric vehicles. This includes phasing out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and accelerating the rollout of charge points. We will set out more details in due course.”
Whether hybrid vehicles are included in the ZEV mandate is still up for debate. The ZEV mandate, which was introduced in January 2024, established increasingly stringent EV sales quotas on manufacturers, reinforcing the 2035 deadline set by the previous Conservative government. The reversion to a 2030 deadline may require changes to this mandate if it is to meet the new deadline.
Labour’s election manifesto did specify that the 2030 phase-out applied to cars, but did not state that vans were included. This gives the government some room to manoeuvre with regards to transitioning commercial fleets to electric. The manifesto also included improvements to the charging infrastructure, so we should hopefully see movement in this regard also.
One of the main reasons given for the 2030 target was the increasing costs of fuel. By delaying the phase-out by five years, higher fuel expenses would cost the UK’s drivers tens of billions of pounds. Economically, then, it is a sound decision.
There have been some mixed reactions to the reinstatement. Many manufacturers are already aiming to be fully electric by 2030, so they are unaffected by the change in deadline. Others stressed that the deadline itself is fine, so long as it is fully supported by the government. Electric infrastructure, such as maintenance and charging facilities, must be rolled out at pace so that they can meet the demand of increased electric vehicles on the road.
