The final consultation on the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate and CO2 emissions regulation for new cars and vans in the UK was published on Friday, 31 March and closed on Wednesday, 24 May, according to a Northern Ireland building regulations document1. It was carried out jointly by the UK government and the devolved administrations, and was the last of three consultations, two of which had already been completed1.
The UK Government has committed to introducing a ZEV mandate from 1 January 20241. The regulation will set targets requiring an increasing percentage of each manufacturer's new car or van sales to be zero emission each year, with the aim of encouraging the sale of increasing numbers of zero-emission vehicles1. Ministerial agreement means the proposed regulation is extended to Northern Ireland, where zero-emission vehicles currently make up around 7% of total new cars registered1. Following completion of the final consultation, legislation is likely to have to be introduced to support the regulation1.
The document sets out the wider context for the ZEV mandate. The UK government has announced plans to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030, with all vehicles required to have significant zero emissions capability from that year and to be 100% zero emissions from 20351. In March 2023 there were 1.25 million registered vehicles in Northern Ireland, of which around 12,890 were ultra-low emission vehicles, or 1.1%1. A research project commissioned by the Department for Infrastructure and produced by Steer forecast between 60,000 and 125,000 electric vehicles in Northern Ireland by 20251.
The same document consults on electric vehicle charging infrastructure in buildings, using amendments to Building Regulations to require charging points or ducting in all new dwellings, or buildings undergoing major renovation1. It states that around 80% of properties in Northern Ireland have access to a driveway, and that charging an electric vehicle at home overnight will continue to provide the most convenient and cost-effective opportunity for most households1. It adds that at-home charging is likely to account for the bulk of charging in future, and that for those without a driveway, workplace, leisure, communal and on-street charging will be key1.
The minimum requirements under Article 8 of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, as set out in the document, are:
| Category of building | Requirement |
|---|---|
| New non-residential with more than 10 parking spaces | At least one charging point and ducting for at least one in every five spaces |
| New residential with more than 10 parking spaces | Ducting for every parking space |
| New domestic dwelling with a parking space within its curtilage | None |
| Existing non-domestic undergoing major renovation with more than 10 spaces | At least one charging point and ducting for at least one in every five spaces |
| Existing non-domestic with more than 20 spaces | Minimum number of charging points by 1 January 2025 |
| Existing domestic undergoing major renovation with more than 10 spaces | Ducting for every parking space |
The document states that the proposals go further than these minimum requirements1. It notes that at-home charging will increase a building's electricity use, and that while the share of on-site renewable electricity used at the building could improve, assumptions about time-of-day charging, on-site storage and bi-directional provision complicate standardised assessment1.
"The UK Government has committed to introducing a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate from 1 January 2024."
Why it matters for households
The mandate sets the pace at which new zero-emission cars and vans reach the market, and therefore the point at which a household buying new no longer has a petrol or diesel option. The 2030 and 2035 dates for the end of new petrol, diesel and hybrid sales frame the same transition1. For a home, the practical question is charging: the document expects most charging to happen at home, and treats a driveway as the dividing line, with around 80% of Northern Ireland properties having one1. Homes without off-street parking depend on public, workplace and communal charging instead1. The building rules being consulted on would affect new homes and major renovations rather than existing homes generally, and the minimum requirements table shows no charging point requirement for a new dwelling with a parking space inside its curtilage1. How the rules interact with a home's own electricity use, on-site generation and storage is described as unresolved1.
What happens next
Legislation is likely to have to be introduced to support the ZEV mandate regulation following the close of the consultation on 24 May1. The document also notes that NIE Networks recently launched its RP7 business case1. No further dates are given in the document.
Sources1 cited
- Section3E, consultations2.nidirect.gov.uk