Starting yesterday (3rd January 2024), a new law in the UK requires that at least 22% of cars sold must be zero-emission vehicles, mainly electric ones.
This percentage will increase each year until it reaches 100% by 2035. Car manufacturers failing to meet these targets will be fined £15,000 for each vehicle sold above the limits. The law also applies to van sales, with a starting threshold of 10% this year.
This initiative, developed in collaboration with the Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish governments, aims to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles (EVs).
The DfT said the number of public charge points is 'surging across the country.' The Westminster Government’s technology and decarbonisation minister Anthony Browne, who will visit an EV charging hub installed by bp pulse in central London on Wednesday, said:
“Alongside us having spent more than £2bn in the transition to electric vehicles, our zero-emission vehicle mandate will further boost the economy and support manufacturers to safeguard skilled British jobs in the automotive industry.
“We are providing investment certainty for the charging sector to expand our charging network, which has already grown by 44 per cent since this time last year.
“This will support the constantly growing number of EVs in the UK, which currently account for over 16 per cent of the new UK car market.”
The law comes as it emerged on Tuesday (3rd January 2024) that a government target for EV chargers near motorways had been missed. The DfT set an ambitious goal for there to be at least six rapid or ultra-rapid chargers at every motorway service area in England by the end of 2023 in a bid to improve the confidence of drivers to make long journeys.
However, new RAC analysis of data by charger locator service Zapmap found that just 39 per cent of the 119 sites met the target.