Labour asks: Can cars with no plugs be allowed after 2030?
Plus, the Welsh Language Commissoner reminds Welsh councils to offer help in Welsh at Welsh chargers
Hello, and Happy New Year! I’m Tom Riley, and welcome to The Fast Charge, a British EV newsletter.
Top story today… 2024 ended with a bang as the long overdue consultation on the ZEV mandate was published on Christmas Eve. And then, 2025 started with record breaking EV sales figures. Double bang!
Elsewhere… Chinese carmaker Xpeng is preparing to launch in the UK, and are cars getting fat? Plus, following a report by me, the Welsh Language Commissioner has written warnings to Welsh authorities for not offering Welsh on their country’s EV network.
Finally, if you ever have any comments or feedback, please do get in touch by replying to this email or using the links below.
At last… All those overdue EV consultations and guidance
Summary… ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through Whitehall, not a soul was stirring, not even a mouse. The computers were closed, and all officials everywhere were at home knowing soon St Nicholas would be there… That is unless you work in OZEV, who must have been on Santa’s naughty list. As, based on some of the public comments by senior Transport officials, many had to down mince pies at “short notice” to get the long-overdue ZEV mandate consultations (and bazillions of other promised EV guides) out the door.
So, what was left under the tree? Firstly, there’s a consultation seeking views on proposals to support the UK’s transition away from solely internal combustion cars by 2030. Second, a consultation to look at making it easier for the transition to electric vans. And, lastly, a raft of guidance and pledges to reform planning legislation and bolster grid connectivity.
More detail? Well, let’s focus on the big one for now: phasing out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030. The consultation closes on the 18th of February - my birthday as it happens, how serendipitous - and poses a total of 17 questions to stakeholders. These are broken into two parts. The first ten relate to part 1 of the consultation, which centres around Labour’s manifesto commitment. The latter questions cover part 2, which is where the government asks for views on flexibilities to meet the mandate.
A little closer… The questions are largely as you’d expect. The points in this document I’ve found most interesting is how important they see language. There are, by my reckoning, almost six pages dedicated to providing technical explanations and questions around how to create a definition to ensure that “new cars powered solely by petrol or diesel, and that do not have any form of electrification or energy recovery as part of the drivetrain, are explicitly ruled out.”
In simple terms… this is where stakeholders will thrash it out over what a ‘hybrid’ really is. And, where Labour will need to strike the correct balance to truthfully meet its election manifesto commitment.
Based on the framing of the first question from the government… it looks like a possible outcome could be that the government will allow cars without plugs to still be available even after 2030. Question 1 states… “Do you agree with the Government’s view that full hybrid and plug-in hybrid technologies only should be considered?” This will be supported by many of the laggard or smaller carmakers who have hybrid technology (such as Toyota). However, other businesses, such as charging networks, may want to see a much stronger and straightforward definition, like only allowing plug-in hybrids.
🔔 For a reminder of the previous views carmakers had on hybrids during the original ZEV mandate consultation in 2022, see their submissions below.
My view... While I know there was some trepidation around this consultation, as people believed that it could be a way for Labour to fold in towards the car industry complaints around consumer interest, I do not believe that to be the case. Not only is, again, the language in the Ministerial Foreword robust and positive about the opportunity for the UK, but it also calls out the “great harm” Sunak’s government did by moving the goalposts which created “doubt in the minds of investors and boardrooms.”
Plus… The timing over Christmas on the face of it seems a little like the government is trying to do a ‘nothing to see here’, and I agree. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. One industry source told me pre-crimbo that this timetable is, essentially, a soft ‘two-fingers’ up to ‘aggressors’- as it is providing as few real working weeks as possible for engagement. Translated… Labour knows what it wants to do already.
Additionally… This week, we have seen the tremendous figures pouring out of the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders - which revealed EV sales boomed in December taking 20% of the market. These were reinforced by New AutoMotive’s analysis suggesting battery power was the nation’s favourite at the end of 2024. The UK is now fully in the driving seat of the EV transition across Europe.
Obviously… There’s likely a myriad of on-the-ground reasons why that late sales boom happened in the ZEV mandate’s first year. Though, I’m sure officials were aware that good numbers were likely coming down the tracks. As a result, on Monday we finally saw a frontpage Times story with the headline “Thousands of new plug-in points herald electric car revolution”. That’s a real moment considering that 18 months ago the same paper splashed, “Electric car sales switch into reverse”. Dad humour alert but… oh how The Times have changed. Even GB News has gone into reverse!
In the coming weeks… I’m going to be spotlighting various parts of these documents (as there’s a lot), so please do share with me your views, or get in touch if you’ve got something to say. I’ll also be pulling out some of those other publications that have flown largely under the radar, such as the long-awaited pavement charging guide. And, also, the government’s ‘7 action areas’ for improving grid connections and planning. Which, despite being published on 24 December, is nearly identical in wording to the document I saw in Spring last year that disappointed EV leaders… Eek!
That aside… Hat tip to all those officials who have evidently put a lot of hours into getting these documents together. It’s a mighty feat and, hopefully, they got time to tank some fizz during Christmas.
⚡️ You can check out the government’s press release and links to all the consultations here.
Welsh authorities warned for not offering Welsh language on their EV network
Readers may recall that… Late last year, I spent a thrilling Sunday calling up 55 EV charging network helplines to see whether they provided support 24/7, as required by UK law. During that research, I uncovered that Dragon Charging, one of (if not the) largest dedicated Welsh network in the country, with some 325 chargers, was not offering a Welsh speaking option to drivers. This is a breach of the Welsh Language Act. And quite silly.
🗣️ Following a report I made to the Welsh Language Commissioner, who is responsible for enforcing the Act, they have since conducted an inquiry and agreed with my findings.
As such… The Commissioner’s team wrote to 10 Welsh authorities in December reminding them that their charging networks need to offer Welsh language options. I am told that several authorities have already taken action and are speaking to Dragon. They also told me they would be monitoring it which will include “testing the calling options in the new year”.
🙈 The authorities in question that use Dragon chargers in Wales include…Pembrokeshire County Council, Newport County Council, Pembrokeshire National Park Authority, Ceredigion County Council, Carmarthenshire County Council, Caerphilly County Council, Torfaen County Council, Monmouthshire County Council, Powys County Council, and Blaenau Gwent County Council.
Other bits…
👓 Speaking of the recent auto industry figures and whether 2024 hit the ZEV mandate, the head of the policy itself, James Vickery, posted a very helpful explainer on why - with the flexibilities already in law - the UK did meet the 22% target. Read here.
🎤 The lobby group SMMT is hosting its next ‘Electrified’ event on 13 March. Likewise, should anyone want to play ‘Where’s Wally?’, on the sign-up page, I appear in the first picture from the last one in 2023. I plan to go to this one too.
🔌 According to Zapmap, more than 20,000 new charger were installed throughout 2024, bringing the total number across the country to 73,699 — a year-on-year increase of 38%. Bosh!
🍟 A really good video by Carwow who look at how much ‘fatter’ cars are getting now. It’s so true. Watch it here.
🚘 Xpeng, the Chinese brand already operating elsewhere in Europe, has officially launched its marketing campaign in the UK as it prepares to launch its G6 SUV. According to LinkedIn, they will “soon be revealing pricing and availability to purchase.” See here.
🛴 A big story in the Daily Mail this week centred on putting an end to the ‘e-scooter menace’ that has killed 29 killing people and injured thousands in recent years. Read here. I entirely agree with this story. I think e-scooters are dangerous, nearly always used without helmets, and are largely ignored by police. Most of the accidents often involve children. It’s a disgrace that governments have been so relaxed about private purchases - they should be treated like drones and registered on a database.
Electric scooters- a great idea but no enforcement action by police to ensure safety. In inner London I constantly see riders at night dressed all in black, without lights