Electric vehicles and infrastructure

The UK has committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Transport was responsible for 29% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, making it the largest emitting sector of the UK economy. Over half (54%) of the UK’s transport emissions come from cars and taxis.

Electric vehicles offer a way to reduce these emissions, because full battery electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles produce zero carbon emissions at the tailpipe. In February 2024 the government said “the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is a crucial step towards achieving the UK’s net zero target.”

In April 2025 the government confirmed an end to the sale of new pure petrol or diesel cars in 2030, which was a manifesto commitment. It also set an end to new pure petrol-diesel vans in 2035, and that the sale of hybrid cars would be permitted between 2030 and 2035.

In 2021 the government said that 2040 would be a ‘backstop’ phase-out date for new non zero-emission vehicles of all other types, including HGVs and buses.

Progress on the EV transition

The market for EVs is small yet growing. Just 3% of cars (1.09 million) were battery electric in the UK at the end of June 2024, and 8% were hybrid electric (using an electric motor as well as petrol/diesel). Battery electric cars accounted for 19% of all new car registrations at the end of June 2024, an increase from 1% in 2018.

In its 2024 inquiry into EV strategy, the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee said that demand for electric cars is being constrained due to their upfront cost, inadequate charging infrastructure and general consumer scepticism.

Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate

In January 2024, the government introduced a zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate for car manufacturers, intended to provide greater certainty to manufacturers, and provide a greater range of EV options to consumers.

The mandate specifies the minimum proportion of car manufacturers’ sales that must be zero-emission vehicles. This will increase from 22% in 2024 to 80% by 2030, and 100% in 2035. Following a consultation, in April 2025 the government said it will relax some of the ZEV mandate rules.

Improving charging infrastructure

There are a variety of UK-wide grant schemes to support new EV chargepoints outside homes and at workplaces. In England, Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) funding is available for local authorities. In 2020 the Conservative government also announced plans for a Rapid Charging fund (RCF) to increase provision of chargepoints at motorway service stations, but the RCF has still not yet opened to bids.

In 2021 the government legislated to require EV chargepoints to be installed in a range of new build homes and other buildings. In 2023 it introduced regulations to improve the customer experience of on-street EV charging, including contactless payments. In 2022 the British Standards Institute (BSI) produced a voluntary specification for the installation of accessible chargepoints, to improve EV charging for people with disabilities.

In December 2024 the government published guidance for local authorities to help them develop policies on cross-pavement charging solutions.

The devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also have their own strategies for EV infrastructure.

EVs and electricity demand

Increasing the number of EVs will reduce petrol and diesel demand but add to electricity demand. This could increase pressure on Great Britain’s electricity grid network, operated by National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO). There has previously been concern about the challenges to the grid, in terms of electrical capacity and grid balancing.

However National Grid ESO has said that although demand for electricity will increase, there will be a managed transition that will be within the range the grid can handle.

EVs also have the potential to help balance a more flexible and low carbon grid through developments that allow their batteries to charge at optimum times, known as “smart charging”, and to supply electricity in times of high demand, known as “vehicle to grid”.

EVs and environmental impact

The total greenhouse gas emissions from an EV are known as its “lifecycle emissions”. These combine the emissions from manufacturing the vehicle (which tend to be higher than manufacturing internal-combustion vehicles), powering the vehicle through its life (which tend to be lower than powering internal-combustion vehicles), and decommissioning the batteries at the end of their life.

Calculations of lifecycle emissions vary based on the methodology and assumptions used. The International Energy Agency’s lifecycle emission comparisons calculates that in the UK, a medium sized EV has higher manufacturing emissions that an internal-combustion engine equivalent, but the lower emissions from powering the EV mean its cumulative emissions are lower after 3 years of use.

There are various other environmental considerations related to EVs, including the use of critical minerals in batteries, which have challenges with sustainable extraction, and how best to recycle or reuse batteries.