In a twist that's stirring the pot of government decisions, the future of the ZEV mandate appears far from certain. Recent whispers from within the hallowed halls of Westminster suggest that Members of Parliament could soon have the chance to give a thumbs-down to the contentious eco-policy. Hold onto your driving gloves, for the plot thickens.

The venerable "i" has it on good authority that Rishi Sunak, that financial maestro, is cooking up something revolutionary for the net zero policy playbook. Rumblings in the corridors of power reveal a wave of unease among some Tory backbenchers, sparking these potential changes.

This report claims the Department for Transport, backed by the PM, is about to whip out the rarely-used 'affirmative' procedure. Picture this: the policy would have to be approved not only by the House of Commons but also by the dignified members of the House of Lords. It's a double stamp, ensuring that no stone is left unturned. In essence, it's a chance for MPs to give a bit of a huff and a puff, and if they're not too chuffed, to vote against the rules. Even the highly debated ZEV mandate isn't safe from this procedure's clutches.

As if that's not eyebrow-raising enough, the Department for Transport could also pull out the trump card by vetoing the supporting laws needed to put carmakers on the straight and narrow with new targets. Tory rumblings suggest that dropping the eco-zeppelin might just be a golden ticket in next year's general election race. Uxbridge already saw the Tories claiming victory in a by-election, and some pundits put it down to the public's low emissions ire, directed squarely at Labour.

Let's cut to the chase: the ZEV mandate, if it goes ahead, would make carmakers strive to make at least 22% of their vehicles electric by next year. Failing to hit these goals would lead to a fine – a whopping £15,000 for each petrolhead's non-electric ride, and an even heftier £18,000 for those non-electric vans that fail to make the cut.

The grand reveal of this new procedure left the Department for Transport looking a bit coy when questioned by the "i". A spokesperson artfully sidestepped giving a straight answer, stating, "We're all about phasing out petrol and diesel cars by 2030. Keeping industry in the loop, securing jobs, and backing UK car manufacturers for a futuristic ride." They promised to let us in on their mandate musings later, once they're ready to spill the beans.

In a second act, the spokesperson added, "Don't forget, the Climate Change Act 2008 clearly calls for the zero emission vehicle mandate to pass through parliament's approval hoop. And that, my friend, usually involves this fancy thing called an affirmative statutory instrument."

As if this weren't enough to digest, this news comes on the heels of some rather choice words from the experts who watch the auto industry like a hawk. Ministers raised a few eyebrows by sending mixed signals about their electric dreams last month. Initially toying with the idea of pushing back the 2030 ban on traditional engines, they later proclaimed it was set in stone. Labour didn't hold back in their response, labelling the Tory approach a bit of a kerfuffle.

Louise Haigh, the shadow secretary of state for transport, summed it up quite succinctly, "The real issue here is the Tory tumult and confusion, just when the car industry's looking for a bit of rock-solid reassurance."

Article Source: cardealermagazine.co.uk