The report from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) warns of the risk that slower roll-out of new EVs could reduce the size of the second-hand market, and force low-income drivers to pay more to continue running petrol cars.
The ECIU is calling on the government to increase its proposed level for the incoming zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate to avoid this scenario.
The ZEV mandate will require UK manufacturers to increase the proportion of new zero-emission cars and vans they sell in the UK. The proportion has currently been set at 22 per cent for 2024, rising each year until 2035, when 100 per cent of sales must be zero emission.
However, this plan is set to lead to 2.1 million fewer used small and mid-sized EVs being placed on sale by 2033, compared with a scenario in which ministers adopt the car industry’s “high” EV sales projections, ECIU predicts.
The non-profit points out an analysis from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and...