The complaints from car manufacturers about the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate are as predictable as they are tiresome. History tells us that every major transition is met with resistance from those who failed to adapt. The leaders of the horse-drawn carriage industry fought against the steam engine.
The same is happening now: many traditional carmakers, stuck in the internal combustion engine (ICE) mindset, are gasping for air, hoping to delay the inevitable. But the EV transition is already well underway, several carmakers are pushing forward to a fully electric future. We must not let the desperation of the laggards slow us down.
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For decades, many UK and European carmakers ignored the signs. They had ample warning and chose not to act. Two decades ago, they should have been laying the groundwork for an electrified future. Instead, they are now panicking, blaming the government for their inaction. The ZEV mandate was not a surprise; it was a necessity. Complaining about it now is simply an attempt to mask their strategic failures.
Make no mistake — this isn’t about making the EV transition more sustainable or consumer-friendly. The loudest voices against the ZEV mandate belong to carmakers that refused to evolve. Their goal isn’t to improve the system; it’s to buy time so they can die in 30 years instead of 10. But time isn’t on their side. The transition is happening, and the data proves it.
There are now more electric vehicles available than ever before, more high-tech charging options, and costs are coming down. The UK is the largest EV market in Europe — proof that the ZEV mandate is working. But we cannot afford to become complacent. Germany was once in our position, but wavering policies and delays have stalled progress. We must keep our foot on the accelerator.
A major part of that is consistency. Calls to make extra allowances for hybrids are a distraction. The ZEV mandate is already delivering results, and hybrids are a transitional technology, not a long-term solution. We don’t need to tinker with a policy that is already proving effective.
The government has not helped matters by opening a consultation on the ZEV mandate. The moment you create uncertainty, people hesitate. Drivers see headlines about possible changes and wonder if they should wait before switching to an EV. This sends the wrong message. The government needs to pick a stance and stick to it. If we want the public to believe in the transition, we need to stop second-guessing it.
Meanwhile, regional leaders should step up. The government has set a clear direction, but regional mayors have the opportunity — and the responsibility — to push forward. Transport discussions tend to focus on public transport, but private car use is not disappearing. EVs are the future, and local leaders should integrate them into their broader transport strategies.
The reality is that the biggest infrastructure shifts don’t always come from central government. The railways were not built by national decree — they were driven by regional demand for trade and transport. The EV transition is no different. Councils, local authority leaders and transport bodies understand their regions better than Westminster ever will. They can shape policies that work for their communities, ensuring the best charging networks, new green jobs, and sustained economic growth. This is their moment to lead.
We are in the middle of a fundamental shift in mobility. The ZEV mandate is not the problem — it is the solution. The only people struggling are those who refused to prepare for the future. The government should not waver. The mayors should seize the opportunity. And the rest of us should ignore the last gasps of an industry that refused to evolve.
Asif Ghafoor is CEO of Be.EV. The company is majority-owned by Octopus Energy Generation and backed by NatWest and KfW, a German state-owned investment and development bank.
