Government considers cutting 2030 ZEV target for vans to 40%

The proposals are part of a consultation launched by DfT today (14 August) looking at the ZEV Mandate targets for cars and vans, with four alternative options being considered for each sector.

For van manufacturers and operators the consultation could result in a significantly slower increase in the proportion of new vehicles required to be zero emission during the second half of the decade.

Under the existing trajectory, 24% of new vans are required to be zero emission in 2026, rising to 70% by 2030 and 100% by 2035.

The government is seeking views on whether the current targets remain achievable given market conditions and forecasts.

For vans, the consultation offers four potential 2030 targets: 70%, 60%, 50% or 40%.

Despite the potential percentage changes mooted, the government’s end dates remain unchanged.

New petrol and diesel cars and vans are set to be phased out by 2030, with all new cars and vans required to be zero emission by 2035.

The review also asks whether compliance flexibilities currently available to manufacturers should be extended beyond 2029.

Existing flexibilities allow manufacturers to comply with the ZEV Mandate without necessarily meeting the headline annual targets, subject to the rules of the scheme.

For vans, the government is therefore considering not only a lower headline target but also whether manufacturers should have greater flexibility in how they meet their obligations.

The consultation recognises the commercial and economic challenges facing the automotive industry, including supply chain disruption and tariff and trade uncertainty.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “The UK EV market is strong - sales are up, British manufacturers and charge point operators are investing billions, alongside our backing of £7.5bn, including our Electric Car Grant that has helped over 160,000 people make the switch.

“It’s right we keep targets under review to ensure they’re practical and back British industry. The end goal hasn’t changed – but we need to take business with us on the journey, and that’s exactly what we’re doing today, by making sure industry has the chance to shape how we get there.”

The review is particularly significant for the van sector, where the transition to electric vehicles has raised different practical issues from the passenger car market.

Operators have to consider factors including payload, range, charging times, depot infrastructure and vehicle utilisation when replacing diesel vans with electric alternatives.

The government is also seeking views on additional measures that could increase demand for electric vehicles, as well as how plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) should be treated under the legislation and whether their use in electric mode could be further incentivised.

For manufacturers, the consultation could therefore provide greater flexibility if demand for electric vans does not develop quickly enough to support the existing trajectory.

The consultation is also asking whether additional measures could be introduced to stimulate EV demand.

The government is investing £7.5bn to support the transition, including £4bn through DRIVE35 projects and £3.5bn covering van, truck and car grants, the Electric Car Grant and EV charging infrastructure.

It has also committed £600m to expanding the public charging network.

The government said around 120,000 public chargepoints are currently available, with more than one million additional chargers located in homes and workplaces. A further £400m is being used to deliver more than 100,000 public chargers.

For commercial operators, the availability of suitable charging infrastructure remains a critical part of the transition, particularly for businesses operating vans intensively throughout the working day or without access to dedicated overnight depot charging.

Industry welcomed the review. Mike Hawes, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) chief executive, welcomed the review and called for the transition to be commercially sustainable.

“The automotive industry is fully committed to a zero-emission future, investing billions in new technologies, products and incentives. However, with the ZEV Mandate conceived under vastly different conditions, this welcome review is a timely opportunity to adjust the transition so it works for all.

“That means a commercially sustainable transition which supports UK competitiveness, investment and jobs whilst delivering greater choice and affordability for motorists – the sooner, the better.”

However, Delvin Lane, CEO, InstaVolt chief executive, warned that any u-turn on the ZEV mandate would undermine the charging market and the transition to cleaner vehicles.

He said: “Ultra-rapid charging investment doesn’t happen on the back of uncertainty.

“We’ve invested hundreds of millions of pounds into the UK’s charging network because government policy gave us a clear runway to plan against.

“Softening the mandate at this stage risks spooking exactly the private capital that’s been building the infrastructure this transition depends on.”

The consultation will run until 23 October 2026.