The UK Government says that the UK now has the most ambitious regulatory framework for the switch to electric vehicles of any country in the world, thanks to new laws which commenced as of 3 January 2024.
The zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate sets out the percentage of new zero emission cars and vans manufacturers will be required to produce each year up to 2030. It states that 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain will now be zero emission by 2030, increasing to 100% by 2035.
The new laws are also intended to help households make the switch to electric, supporting growth of EV sales in the second-hand market, and incentivising charging to roll out more widely across the country.
The government’s schemes to lower the upfront and running costs of owning an EV includes the plug-in van grant of up to £2,500 for small vans and £5,000 for large vans until at least 2025 and £350 off the cost of homeplace chargepoints for people living in flats.
Additionally, last month the UK and European Union (EU) agreed to extend trade rules on electric vehicles, saving manufacturers and consumers up to an estimated £4.3 billion in additional costs.
The government also says it is continuing to support the rollout of EV infrastructure, with applications for the first round of the £381 million Local EV Infrastructure Fund currently being assessed. The government has also launched a £70 million pilot to support the deployment of ultra-rapid charging points at motorway service areas.
As part of the government’s “Plan for drivers,” it says it also intends to consult on ways to make installations cheaper and quicker for chargepoint operators, review the grid connections process for chargepoints, and consult on the expansion of permitted development rights to make installations easier.
This is valid as of 8th January 2024.
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