Labour’s revisions to electric vehicle (EV) regulations, intended to counteract Donald Trump’s import tariffs, will have a minimal effect on the UK‘s carbon emissions, according to the Transport Secretary.
Keir Starmer has announced initiatives aimed at supporting manufacturers, including the reinstatement of the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales, although the transition will now accommodate the continued availability of new hybrids until 2035.
Heidi Alexander, speaking on BBC Breakfast, emphasized that the adjustments to EV manufacturing targets were “carefully calibrated” to ensure they do not significantly impact the UK’s carbon reduction goals. She highlighted that the expected increase in carbon emissions due to these policy changes is “negligible.”
Under the new regulations, luxury supercar brands such as Aston Martin and McLaren will continue producing petrol vehicles past 2030, owing to their limited production scales.
Furthermore, new hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles will be allowed until 2035, alongside petrol and diesel vans.
Alexander believes that the government has successfully balanced the need to protect British businesses while advancing towards lower carbon emissions.
She remarked on the importance of flexibility in how car manufacturers adapt to EV technology, which aims to make electric vehicles more affordable and reduce running costs for consumers.
On BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, when asked about leveraging Starmer’s relationship with Trump to influence U.S. policy, Alexander noted that international discussions would focus on what best serves the interests of the British public.
The Labour government has faced criticism for these policy adjustments, which were reportedly underway before the U.S. tariff announcement.
Critics argue that this strategy not only dampens the momentum towards fully electric transportation but also appears to compromise Labour’s commitment to climate goals, as evidenced by approvals for airport expansions and a new road tunnel project.
Opposition voices, like Green Party MP Siân Berry, argue that the delay in phasing out fossil-fueled vehicles contradicts economic logic, given the rapid growth of green sectors in the UK economy.
Colin Walker from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit warned that the softened mandates could reduce competitive pressure among manufacturers, potentially slowing the drop in EV prices and sales, thereby hampering the growth of the secondhand EV market and forcing families to continue paying higher costs associated with petrol and hybrid vehicles.
