Radical action – not government “tinkering” – is essential to solve issues surrounding the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, according to FleetCheck.

FleetCheck says ZEV mandate changes need to bridge the demand–supply gap for EVs, especially for vans

The official consultation into the regulations opened on Christmas Eve after months of warnings from carmakers of “irreversible damage” from the EV rules, and commits to maintaining the trajectories in the ZEV mandate while also considering how the current arrangements and flexibilities are working.

But Peter Golding, managing director at fleet software specialist FleetCheck, said leaked government ideas seen in the press so far – allowing mild hybrids to stay on sale for longer, adding EVs made for export into manufacturer figures, or combining electric car and van sales – “look more like window dressing”.

He’s warned that such “tinkering” might move the percentage targets a couple of points but doesn’t tackle the fundamental demand–supply issue.

Golding elaborated: “The core problem with the ZEV mandate is that there is a wide mismatch between real-world demand for electric vehicles and the artificially inflated supply that the policy creates. Any changes need to bridge that gap, which is especially apparent in the van sector.”

Golding said that if the Government is determined to maintain current ZEV mandate quotas, it needed to acknowledge that more radical action is needed.

“Labour appears to have a strong political and ethical commitment to the targets and there is nothing wrong with that. Almost everyone acknowledges that transport has its part to play in reducing carbon emissions.

“However, the market needs much higher levels of support if those targets are going to be met. That might mean a 50% reduction on VAT for EVs, as the SMMT has suggested, or some other form of substantial subsidy.”

Golding also warned of changes needed on the charging front.

A deep underlying issue behind EV uptake, he explained, was that the infrastructure needed to be radically upgraded for people without the potential to install off-street charging.

“Estimates vary but something such as 30-40% of people living in terraced housing or apartments can’t install their own charger. Probably the only local options available to them are a couple of expensive, high-speed chargers at their local petrol station and some cheaper but much slower ones at their nearest big supermarket.

“These people are being effectively excluded from the EV market and won’t be able to genuinely consider moving out of their petrol or diesel vehicle until low-cost charging is made available on their street.

“This needs to change – and quickly. People cannot electrify unless it is made practical for them.”