A Coalition of organisations from the health, transport and climate sectors have warned the government that weakening the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate would be an “unnecessary act of economic self-harm”.
The warning comes as the UK and devolved governments consulted options to lower the annual percentage of new cars and vans that must be zero-emissions. Signatories claimed the move would threaten public health and industrial growth.
Organisations involved include WWF, Greenpeace and The British Heart Foundation Cymru. The groups argue that the mandate is not just an environmental policy but a “cornerstone” of national energy security and economic security.
The joint statement said: “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.”
The coalition further claimed that watering the mandate down would risk slowing billions in investment, which is money they believe could help reindustrialise the country with industries such as lithium mining.
Signatories also pushed for more EVs to be on the roads sooner, saying it could reduce commuting costs for millions of people across the country.
Copyright © 2026 Energy Live News LtdELN