Labour considers weakening electric car targets as experts slam proposals - 'Profoundly disappointing'

Labour considers weakening electric car targets as experts slam proposals - 'Profoundly disappointing' Road transport continues to represent the largest share of UK domestic greenhouse gas emissions Sign up to the Cars Newsletter Email address Sign up I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News. By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules. Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us The Government has been told that cutting electric car targets could jeopardise its zero emission transition, a coalition of climate, transport and health groups has warned. Labour launched a consultation in August that proposed making significant changes to the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, which is set to end today (October 23). The ZEV mandate sets out electric vehicle sales targets for manufacturers until 2035, when only zero emission vehicles will remain on sale. By the end of this year, 33 per cent of all car sales are expected to be electric, before rising to 80 per cent in 2030 and 100 per cent five years later. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Labour's consultation on the mandate proposes reducing the 2030 target to 70 per cent, 60 per cent, 50 per cent, or maintaining the 80 per cent target with extended flexibilities. A similar question proposes reducing the 70 per cent target for van sales to as little as 40 per cent, while keeping the original 100 per cent goal for 2035. A coalition of experts has warned that weakening the ZEV mandate would lead to a worsened economic outlook, increased air pollution and worse energy security. Dozens of organisations, including Greenpeace, the WWF and Friends of the Earth, have urged the Government to avoid an "unnecessary act of economic self-harm". Climate, transport and health groups have called on Labour to avoid weakening electric car sales targets | GETTY The ZEV mandate has been hailed as the Government showing intent to encourage the switch to electric vehicles, especially after Labour reinstated the 2030 deadline to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles. However, any changes to the targets could impact the uptake of electric vehicles. It comes just weeks after the UK saw more than 99,000 new EVs join the road in September. The joint statement reads: "We are profoundly disappointed that the Government is considering weakening the ZEV mandate. The mandate is not only Britain's biggest carbon-reduction policy of this decade, but it is also one of the strongest economic, energy security, and air pollution policies the UK currently has. "By bowing to automotive lobbying rather than doubling down on the clean transport transition, the Government is neglecting its duty to safeguard respiratory health, reduce healthcare costs for our overburdened NHS, reduce our reliance on volatile foreign energy, and protect our climate." LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Drivers forced off roads as bright headlights cause havoc for millions of Britons Volvo to slash 2,500 jobs amid intense pressure from Chinese brands and Trump's auto tariffs London seeks to ban new petrol and diesel private hire vehicles from 2030 under new plans A graph showing current legislated ZEV headline targets for cars and four alternative options | GOV.UK Simon Smith, CEO of Voltempo, highlighted how clean road transport requires long-term certainty, as the sector remains the largest share of domestic greenhouse gas emissions. "The ZEV mandate is the signal investors look for. It tells the companies building Britain's charging infrastructure, including the depots that will power the next generation of electric trucks, that the market is coming and the Government is serious about it," he noted. The Climate Coalition's executive director, Helen Meech, emphasised how the UK is "unprepared" for climate change following record temperatures over the summer. She said: "The cost of living crisis, caused by rampant fossil fuel prices, proves we need to get off petrol and diesel as quickly as possible to help hard-up households across the UK. "Electric cars and vans help us combat both problems. Weakening the ZEV mandate would be a step backward when we desperately need to move forward." Almost 100,000 new electric vehicles were sold in the UK last month | SMMT The full list of signatories includes: Transport Action Network Julie's Bicycle New AutoMotive Sustainable Future for All Vision for Sustainable Events Forum A Greener Future Ember Greenpeace UK Zero Hour E3G Women in Mobility UK Climate Catalyst Stop Climate Chaos Scotland Bioabundance The Climate Coalition National Pensioners Convention Mums for Lungs EarthPercent Climate Emergency UK Friends of the Earth Clean Cities Rewriting Earth WWF-UK Green Alliance Voltempo Climate Cymru Campaign for Better Transport Women in Transport Cycling UK Uplift T&E UK Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter Cars Drivers forced off roads as bright headlights cause havoc for millions of Britons Cars Volvo to slash 2,500 jobs amid intense pressure from Chinese brands and Trump's auto tariffs Cars London seeks to ban new petrol and diesel private hire vehicles from 2030 under new plans Cars UK councils spend £42million slashing speed limits to just 20mph Cars Labour commits £220million to address 'national embarrassment' and fix roads Cars DVLA unveils new car tax and driving licence updates impacting millions of motorists Cars Labour 'risks giving with one hand and taking away with the other' amid new electric car rules Cars Ford Cortina ranked as UK's most-wanted revival as drivers demand return of classic cars Cars UK homeowners set to save £300 as Labour removes red tape on electric car chargers Cars Driving law changes to ban common practice impacting thousands of cars across the UK Cars Drivers to benefit from parking law changes - New 10-minute rule, £100 cap on fines and more Cars UK businesses demand urgent fuel duty cut and diesel rebate scheme in upcoming Budget Cars Digital driving licence nearing nationwide rollout for millions of UK drivers - 'Significant moment' Cars Parking law changes confirmed by Labour in major victory for millions of UK drivers Cars DVLA announces new update today that could impact vehicle owners across Britain Cars Smart motorways could be 'even more deadly' as speed cameras suffer from 'anomalies' Cars M6 chaos: 'Serious collision' and vehicle fire forces closure of busy motorway as traffic builds Cars Petrol and diesel drivers paying £330 more for work travel as Labour urged to slash fuel duty Cars Major car brand demands new European Union rules as UK risks isolation - 'Makes us weaker' Cars France and Germany issue major announcement on 'future of European automotive' Cars UK and EU to 'work together and act in lockstep' amid Chinese tariff debate, minister says Cars Tesla unveils flying Roadster with SpaceX rocket thrusters that 'break physics' Cars New Chinese car brands to make UK debut soon amid success of BYD, Jaecoo and more Cars Labour to review airport drop-off costs as parking charges soar to record highs Cars UK councils admit condition of major roads has dropped - Is your area getting worse? 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