EV industry leaders respond as government consults on relaxing ZEV mandate and plug-in hybrid rules

  Posted by: user_amy      10th August 2026

Industry leaders across the electric vehicle sector have responded to reports in The Times that the government is preparing to launch a consultation this week on relaxing its zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, including a “significant section” on plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs).

The current mandate requires 33% of new cars sold this year to be pure electric, rising to 80% by 2030. One option under consideration would reduce that 2030 threshold significantly, potentially to as low as 50%, with manufacturers given greater flexibility to meet sales targets. Pure petrol and diesel car sales are due to end in 2030, with hybrid vehicles permitted until 2035.

The consultation follows Department for Transport (DfT) data showing that around one in five PHEV owners have no way to charge their vehicles at home, alongside European Commission research finding that plug-in hybrids emit 3.5 times more CO2 in real-world driving than official test figures suggest, largely because they are not being charged and driven electrically as often as assumed. SMMT figures released last week showed 23,359 plug-in hybrids registered in July, accounting for 14.9% of the total market.

Delvin Lane, CEO, InstaVolt, 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.

“Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of drivers are choosing to go electric. The numbers back this up: BEVs made up 27% of new car registrations in July, up 49% year-on-year, and staying above the ZEV Mandate trajectory for a second month running. OEMs need to recognise that this demand is real and seize it, or risk watching competitors take the opportunity they’re hesitating over.”

Tanya Sinclair, CEO, Electric Vehicles UK, said:

“The ZEV mandate isn’t the problem. The problem is many of those responsible for delivering it are spending more time complaining about demand than creating it.

“Car manufacturers are among the biggest and most sophisticated marketers in the world. Claims that demand simply isn’t there ring hollow. They know better than most that demand doesn’t just appear. It is built.

“The Mandate isn’t too ambitious. It is deliberately flexible. Nor are EV sales falling short of requirements.

“If everyone involved spent half as much time building consumer demand – as we do at EVUK – as they do arguing over percentages, we would be much closer to a fully electric future.”

Gurjeet Grewal, CEO, Octopus Electric Vehicles, said:

“The ZEV mandate is working. It’s giving manufacturers the confidence to invest and drivers the confidence to switch. We’ve seen strong global investment in the UK because manufacturers see a market with clear policy direction. Weakening the mandate now would send exactly the wrong signal to businesses looking to create jobs and invest here.

“EVs are increasingly the best-value cars on the road and sales continue to grow at a remarkable pace. The last thing we need is another policy wobble that confuses consumers and puts investors off just as the transition is accelerating.”

Andy Palmer, Chair, EVUK, said:

“Plug-in hybrids are transition technology. The destination remains BEV, with efficient REEVs playing a useful role along the way.

“The key is plugging into cheap-rate electricity wherever possible – overnight at home, at work or on the street. That means getting the infrastructure right, and educating the consumer at the point of sale.

“And if hybrids are still needed beyond 2035, they should be efficient REEVs, designed to run primarily on electricity rather than petrol cars carrying a token battery.”

Simon Smith, CEO, Voltempo, said:

“Plug-in hybrids only work if people plug them in. That means convenient, affordable charging where cars actually park – but infrastructure alone isn’t enough. We also need proper driver education so people understand when, where and how to charge to get the best from the technology. If PHEVs are part of the transition, we need to make sure they’re being used as intended.”

Toby Poston, Chief Executive, BVRLA, said:

“The transition to cleaner, greener vehicles relies on people being informed. Dealers need to understand the technology so they can help their customers buy with confidence. The BVRLA is training dealers to give them that knowledge to pass on. Plug-in hybrids can deliver real fuel and emissions savings, but the technology only works as intended if drivers understand how to use it. For people to switch to hybrids and full electric vehicles, education is essential.”