The UK is expected to meet lofty electric car targets, according to new analysis, following strong vehicle sales and interest from millions of drivers.
Fresh data shows the UK is on course to hit the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate and the 28 per cent target for the end of the year, in a major boost to the industry.
The ZEV mandate outlines that manufacturers must have a minimum percentage of sales come from electric cars and vans, with targets increasing every year.
A 28 per cent target has been set for 2025, before climbing to 80 per cent of cars and 70 per cent for vans at the end of the decade.
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It comes as Labour remains committed to banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030, before only zero emission vehicles will be sold from 2035 onwards.
The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) highlights that "flexibilities" in the ZEV mandate allow for the sale of lower emission petrol and diesel cars.
Analysis suggests that the flexibilities allow the percentage of EV sales to fall to 20.4 per cent, despite the headline figure of 28 per cent.
Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows that 426,209 new electric vehicles have been registered between January and November this year.
The UK is on track to meet its electric car sales targets, according to new research
|GETTY/PA
This is an impressive 26 per cent year-on-year jump, while EVs now make up 22.7 per cent of the overall new car market.
In comparison, sales of new petrol cars have fallen 8.3 per cent, while diesel sales continue to plummet, with new registrations down almost 16 per cent compared to last year.
The ZEV mandate, which has been backed by the industry and described as "world-leading", has been instrumental in giving manufacturers assurances that net zero targets are achieved.
Colin Walker, head of transport at the ECIU, said: "Despite claims that sales targets would not be hit, it seems clear that in 2025, just as last year, the industry is on track.
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"British drivers are increasingly choosing to switch to electric, so much so that, of the world’s largest car markets, the UK is now second only to China in the proportion of drivers buying new EVs.
"Be they new cars or regular families going electric on the second-hand market, British EV drivers are saving hundreds, even thousands, of pounds a year."
The ZEV mandate has also helped more drivers switch to cleaner vehicles, thanks to discounts from manufacturers and awareness of affordable models on the market.
Labour's Electric Car Grant, which received a huge £1.3billion boost in the recent Autumn Budget, has already helped more than 40,000 drivers save on a new electric car.
The Ford Puma Gen-E is one of eight models eligible for the maximum £3,750 Electric Car Grant incentive
| FORDMotorists are able to save up to £3,750 off more than 40 models, including the Ford Puma Gen-E, Mini Countryman, Nissan Leaf, Renault 5 and the Volkswagen ID.3.
The ECIU warned that if Labour were planning to follow the EU in delaying the deadline to ban petrol and diesel cars, it would weaken the ZEV mandate.
Mr Walker stated that it would hamper growth, impact the vital second-hand EV market and leave motorists stuck in "dirtier and more expensive petrol cars".
"It’s clear the world is only going in one direction on electric cars, so slipping into the slow lane is a recipe for getting left behind," the expert concluded.