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As EV sales, oil costs and wildfires spike, UK gov’t considers.. fewer EVs? (update)
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- DeepHorus
The UK government has launched a consultation on relaxing its electric vehicle rules, even as Prime Minister Burnham surveys wildfire damage and record heat grips the nation. The move comes despite EV sales already exceeding targets, spiking oil prices, and evidence linking gas cars to climate change. Critics say the timing couldn't be worse.
The UK's EV targets have a tortuous history. Originally aiming for 100% new EV sales by 2040, the target was moved forward, back, and forward again, settling at 80% by 2030 (with the remainder hybrid) and a 2035 combustion-engine ban. Annual goals track progress, with this year's set at 33% of new sales. Extra credits give manufacturers some leeway.
By late 2025, EV sales were high enough to hit 2026 targets, putting the UK ahead of schedule. Geopolitics has strengthened the case: a five-month war in Iran has spiked oil prices, leaving UK petrol at £1.62 per liter ($8.21/gal) and diesel near £1.92 per liter. Households have responded with sharp increases in solar, charger, and heat pump installations since March.
Electric vehicles can run on domestically produced electricity from wind and solar, reducing vulnerability to Strait of Hormuz shocks or Russian gas leverage. During surplus renewable periods, charging can even be free. This is a key technical advantage over combustion engines.
Relaxing targets could affect automakers facing less pressure to produce affordable EVs and consumers seeing a slower transition. The UK is also enduring its hottest summer on record, with a fifth heat wave looming and thousands already dead from heat. Drought covers three-fourths of England, and a recent government report warns of no food security future without climate action.
Environmental groups are alarmed, pointing to transport as the UK's largest emission source. Some industry figures welcome flexibility, citing supply chain issues and charging infrastructure gaps. Public support for clean energy remains high, and petrol prices make EVs more appealing.
The consultation runs for several weeks; any rule change needs parliamentary approval. The government may offer softer flexibility but likely won't abandon the mandate entirely, given the climate crisis. The outcome is uncertain but intensely watched.
Worldwide, EV adoption is accelerating: Australian sales tripled, and nations like Ethiopia, Nepal, and Pakistan are going electric. If the UK retreats, it risks losing climate leadership as the world moves forward.
