Ministers hint at further relaxation of zero emission mandate but say will not follow EU move to dilute 2035 petrol cars ban
The UK is to bring forward its review of electric vehicle sales targets from 2027 to next year, as the government said it would listen to the concerns of the car industry.
The news came as ministers said they would not weaken plans to ban the sale of new petrol or diesel cars from 2035, after the EU announced plans to water down the timing of the phaseout of new combustion engine vehicles.
The government had said in April it would weaken its zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate C which was brought in to force carmakers to sell more electric cars every year, or face the prospect of steep fines C after lobbying from the car industry.
Carmakers had argued the rules were economically unsustainable , leading the UK to introduce flexibilities, which allowed them to earn credits by selling hybrid cars, which combine a smaller battery with a petrol engine. The loopholes allow carmakers to sell more hybrids, which are more profitable for them, amid fierce competition from rivals, including from China.
The ZEV mandate review starts next year and of course wed want to complete that review as quickly as we can, the industry minister, Chris McDonald, told the Financial Times .
Referring to the changes to the rules introduced in the spring, McDonald said: Weve got to be responsible to the industry, and weve also got to be responsive to where the market is as well.
McDonalds confirmation of the timing change of the review came as he visited Nissans factory in Sunderland, where the Japanese carmaker has begun production of its latest electric car .
The launch of the third-generation Leaf, which was the first mass-market battery electric car to be built in the UK, is seen as a crucial step in the British car industrys move away from petrol and diesel.
Nissan has already produced more than 280,000 Leaf models at the plant in north-east England, which is Britains largest car factory.
Electric car sales have increased rapidly in recent years. They represented more than a fifth of the UK market in July.
However, carmakers previously overestimated demand for EVs, meaning they have had to lower their prices to attract buyers.
The EU confirmed on Tuesday it would no longer require carmakers to ensure that 100% of cars and vans produced had zero emissions from 2035.
After heavy pressure from the car industry and leaders of several EU member states including Germany and Italy, the European Commission has promised to reduce this requirement to 90%. This will allow 10% of production after 2035 to be plug-in hybrid electric cars, or even pure combustion engine vehicles.
In a trade-off with industry, carmakers will have to compensate with other green measures on the factory floor, including the use of green steel made in Europe or use of biofuels in non-electric vehicles.
多位部长暗示将进一步放宽零排放强制令，但表示不会效仿欧盟淡化2035年燃油车禁令的举措
英国政府宣布将电动汽车销售目标的评估时间从2027年提前至明年，并表示将听取汽车行业的关切。
在欧盟宣布推迟逐步淘汰新型内燃机汽车的计划后，多位部长表示不会削弱从2035年起禁售新型汽油或柴油车的原定方案。
英国政府曾在4月表示，在汽车行业游说后，将放宽其零排放汽车（ZEV）强制令。该政策原规定汽车制造商需逐年提高电动汽车销量，否则将面临高额罚款。
汽车制造商曾辩称这些规定在经济上不可持续，促使英国引入“灵活性”条款，允许车企通过销售混合动力车（即配备小型电池与汽油发动机的车型）来获取“积分”。这些政策漏洞使车企能够在包括中国竞争对手在内的激烈市场竞争中销售更多利润更高的混合动力车型。
英国产业大臣克里斯·麦克唐纳向《金融时报》表示：“零排放汽车政策审查将于明年启动，我们当然希望尽快完成这项审查。”
麦克唐纳在谈及春季出台的规则变动时表示：“我们必须对行业负责，同时也必须对市场动向保持敏感。”
麦克唐纳在参观日产汽车位于桑德兰的工厂时，确认了评估时间变更的消息。这家日本汽车制造商已开始在该工厂生产其最新的电动汽车。
第三代聆风（Leaf）作为英国首款面向大众市场的纯电动汽车，其上市被视为英国汽车工业摆脱汽油和柴油车的关键一步。
日产汽车已在英格兰东北部的工厂生产了超过28万辆聆风（Leaf）车型，该工厂是英国规模最大的汽车制造基地。
近年来，电动汽车销量快速增长。今年7月，其在英国市场的占比已超过五分之一。
然而，汽车制造商此前高估了市场对电动车的需求，因此不得不通过降价来吸引消费者。
欧盟周二证实，将不再要求汽车制造商确保从2035年起生产的全部轿车和货车实现零排放。
在汽车行业及德国、意大利等欧盟成员国领导人的强烈施压下，欧盟委员会已承诺将这一要求降至90%。这意味着2035年后，10%的产量仍可为插电式混合动力汽车，甚至纯燃油车。
在与行业达成妥协后，汽车制造商将不得不在生产环节采取其他环保措施作为补偿，包括使用欧洲制造的绿色钢材，或在非电动汽车中使用生物燃料。
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