Zemo Partnership have today launched the ‘Map of Missing Policies’, a new report which proposes policies to accelerate the UK’s transition to net zero transport.
In December 2024, Zemo Partnership published the Delivery Roadmap for Net Zero Transport in the UK, outlining urgent steps needed to decarbonise road transport.
While acknowledging existing government policies – such as the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate and the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation – the report highlighted that further action was essential, particularly in stimulating demand for zero-emission vehicles and raising ambition in fuel policies.
They referred to major policy gaps in decarbonising heavy goods vehicles, vans, buses, and coaches, which need to be addressed to meet emission targets by the early 2030s.
The Map of Missing Policies follows on from that, offering practical, timely solutions across five key themes: improving access to green finance, aligning transport with energy, ensuring a sustainable and fair transition, and supporting place-based approaches to deliver net zero road transport by 2050.
The report individually addresses the policies needed for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, vans, buses and coaches. Highlights include:
Passenger cars
- Reintroduce the Plug-In Car Grant, targeted on more affordable models.
- Introduce grants for used electric cars within the typical price range of equivalent new entry- to mid-level models.
- Incentivise the sharing of private chargepoints (such as this scheme being trialled in Ireland)
Commercial Vehicles
- Extend the Plug-In Truck Grant to 2030.
- Publish a strategy for supporting a national charging infrastructure for heavy duty vehicles along the strategic road network and at motorway service areas.
Vans
- Extend the Plug-In Van Grant beyond April 2026.
- Introduce grants for second hand electric van purchases on a time limited basis.
Buses
- Phase in a higher basic Bus Service Operators Grant for electric buses and taper it for existing diesel models until 2032.
- Restrict purchase of new diesel buses by attaching conditions to operating licenses, requiring operators to transition to zero emission vehicles within a specific timeframe.
Zemo’s Acting Managing Director Jonathan Murray said: ‘UK transport’s transition to net zero is well under way, though progress is uneven across the sector. There are still many specific hurdles that these policy prescriptions seek to address as we accelerate into the delivery phase of transport decarbonisation.
‘What gives these policy prescriptions relevance and legitimacy is the fact that they have been scrutinised by such a wide cross-section of industry and academic experts, many of them Zemo Partnership members.’
Neil Stockley, Zemo Head of Public Affairs and the report author said: ‘The UK’s road transport landscape is changing dramatically in a short time-frame. It’s vitally important that policy development keeps pace with this changing landscape to help ensure that the UK’s net zero transport industry continues to thrive and can contribute as much as possible to the UK’s economy and future prospects.’
The full report can be read here.
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