The government’s consultation on the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate has closed, with a final decision expected around the end of the year. The mandate sets rising sales targets for new electric cars and vans, and some carmakers want it weakened.

In this episode, adapted from a Green Alliance webinar chaired by Roz Bulleid, research and policy director at Green Alliance, Ben Nelmes of New AutoMotive, James Court of Octopus Electric Vehicles and Bob Hancké of Political Economic Analysis, Consulting & Strategies (PEACS) ask whether the mandate is really failing. They discuss the case for policy stability, the planned pay-per-mile tax on electric vehicles and why the transition needs a plan for workers and regions. They also look at how electric vehicles connect to cheaper motoring and energy security.