The UK government opened a consultation on 14 August 2026 to review the annual Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate targets. The 2030 phase-out of new petrol and diesel cars and the 2035 goal for fully zero-emission new cars and vans remain the stated end points, while industry is being asked how the annual path should work.
Key facts
- The consultation runs until 23 October 2026.
- More than one in four new cars sold in the UK are now electric, and July EV sales were reported 45% higher than a year earlier.
- The government says more than 120,000 public chargers are available, alongside more than one million chargers in homes and workplaces.
Context and details
The review is important for charging infrastructure because vehicle sales targets and charger investment influence each other. A faster growth in the electric fleet raises demand for dependable home, workplace and public charging, while uncertainty over future sales can affect the timing of private investment.
The government says it is investing £7.5 billion across EV manufacturing, grants and charging. Its announcement also points to £600 million for more charge points, on top of £400 million already being used to support more than 100,000 additional public chargers.
Why it matters
For installers and property owners, the practical message is that public policy can accelerate demand, but an individual installation still depends on the available electrical capacity, cable route, protective devices, earthing and load management at the site.
What it means in practice
The headline should not replace checking the original source and the actual conditions at a specific site. For charging projects, verify electrical capacity, connector type, real charging power, access, payment and maintenance before relying on an announced figure.
What to check before making a practical decision
Before a trip, equipment purchase or installation order, open the original publication and check whether a newer official update has appeared. Separate plans and targets from infrastructure that is already commissioned and available to drivers.