New polling from Savanta for the Climate Barometer Tracker shows that over half (54%) of Labour MPs back sticking to the 2030 phase-out of petrol and diesel vehicles, with only 17% opposed. Across all political parties, 44% support keeping the 2030 deadline.
The data arrives as the government prepares a new consultation on EV targets. In response, a coalition of over 40 industry leaders, including Openreach, BT Group, EVA England, battery manufacturers, and environmental groups, has sent a joint letter to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. They warn that diluting the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate risks undermining billions in committed investments across charging, manufacturing, and business fleets.
The EV Café View: Carmakers are already meeting their compliance targets, and the ZEV mandate is doing its job by driving competition, expanding the second-hand market, and insulating drivers from volatile fuel prices. Government policy must hold its nerve and maintain certainty for investors and operators alike.
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John: Questioned the purpose and speed of endless political consultations, pointing out that public figures and politicians often engage in endless reviews with very weak subsequent action.
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Sam: Felt the poll was positive since a general election is far off, but warned that consultations must be swift: "A consultation that happened two years ago is completely obsolete today... I don't want it to take 6 to 9 months otherwise it's obsolete again."
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Paul: Strongly argued that having another consultation on phase-out dates is "just nuts... it creates uncertainty and delays." He emphasised that electric cars are succeeding in both new and used markets, and policy focus should strictly zero in on commercial vans where the real operational friction remains.
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Sara: Pointed out that MPs have "the slopiest shoulders in the world" to avoid upsetting constituents, cautioning that policy decisions should lean heavily on industry professionals rather than becoming a "camel is a horse designed by committee" situation.