UK EV Sales Were Higher Than Mandated In 2024 - CleanTechnica

In 2024, the UK’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate required that 22% of new vehicle sales be electric vehicles (EVs). According to data from the UK’s Department for Transport, the auto industry exceeded this target when accounting for CO2 credits under the Vehicle Emissions Trading Scheme (VETS). Without credits, 19.8% of new vehicle sales were ZEVs, but including VETS credits raised this to 24.1%, surpassing the mandate. This overachievement allowed manufacturers to bank credits for future years and trade them under the Car Registration Trading Scheme (CRTS), with some even “forward-borrowing” EV registrations to avoid fines. While this demonstrates progress in electrification, it also means automakers can slow their transition by relying on credits rather than increasing actual EV sales. In the light commercial vehicle (LCV) market, a similar pattern emerged: only 6.8% of new LCVs were electric, but