The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has welcomed the UK Government’s “clarity” for vehicle manufacturers on the ZEV Mandate – but has warned about the role of hybrids and emissions targets.
In a letter to Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood, the CCC said that the ZEV Mandate was “working effectively” and manufacturers were meeting their targets.
It added that the “right balance” of flexibilities and penalties was needed to ensure that this continued. The body said that “clear signals and supportive regulation are essential” in order for the 2030 targets to be met.
But it warned that it was concerned about the use of plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) utility factors, used to
calculate the relative emissions savings conferred by PHEVs, that are “not reflective of real-world values”.
It follows the news that after the full ICE ban on new vehicles in 2030, hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars will be allowed to be sold until 2035.
According to the CCC, the government’s assessment of the impact of PHEV underestimates real-world emissions by almost 250%. It said that the overestimating of PHEV CO2 emissions savings “artificially inflates the CO2 flexibility credits they confer”.
In addition, it said that it was possible manufacturers could increase their PHEV levels beyond 2024 levels – which the original assessment of emissions was based on – at the expense of EV sales, which “would see a further reduction in emissions savings”.
Concluding, Professor Piers Forster, interim chair of the CCC, said:
“Although the policy changes proposed are minor, their effect needs to be carefully monitored to ensure that sales of electric cars and vans increase rapidly.
“We recommend that you continue to monitor developments in the market closely, including the share of EV and hybrid sales, the price of EVs, and investment into charging infrastructure.
“If these policy changes appear to slow the emissions reductions from surface transport, we would advise you to urgently counter this effect.”
The news comes ahead of Transport + Energy’s Fleet Electrification Forum on 9 July at Warwick Conferences. Find out more about the event and the wide selection of speakers here.
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