The UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate is under intense scrutiny following a record month for electric car sales that, despite its success, still leaves the market trailing the government’s annual target. The September surge highlights both the potential of the EV market and the significant gap between current performance and long-term policy goals.
September’s results were fueled by government subsidies, leading to a nearly one-third increase in pure EV sales and a 56% jump in plug-in hybrids. This pushed the year-to-date market share for electric cars to 22.1%. While a notable achievement, this figure falls considerably short of the 28% headline target mandated by the ZEV policy for the current year, putting pressure on manufacturers for the remainder of 2025.
The situation is complicated by recent changes to the mandate itself. In April, the government introduced more generous “flexibilities,” which allow carmakers to gain credits for other emission-reducing activities, effectively lowering the number of EVs they need to sell. This move was designed to help the industry but was criticized by the Climate Change Committee for potentially increasing overall carbon emissions.
A thinktank, New Automotive, which tracks the mandate’s progress, has calculated that once these flexibilities are accounted for, the “true” target for battery car sales is likely below 22%. This suggests that the apparent gap between sales and the target might be smaller than it seems, not because of overperformance but because of a weakening of the regulation itself.
This complex interplay between sales figures and policy adjustments creates a confusing picture. While the government can point to record EV uptake as a sign of success, critics argue that the underlying regulatory framework has been diluted. The September boom is a positive sign, but the debate continues over whether the ZEV mandate has the necessary teeth to drive the ambitious, long-term transition it was designed to achieve.