New Car Fuel Consumption & Emission Figures

This page was last updated on 29th November 2024

Annex

ZEV mandate

The Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes Order 2023 (Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate) is a world leading legislative framework, designed with vehicle manufacturers to support the UK’s transition to a fleet of zero emission new cars and vans.

In Great Britain (GB) in 2024 and in Northern Ireland (NI) from 2025, the ZEV mandate replaced the previous, assimilated EU law that set CO2 emissions targets for cars and vans (Regulation (EU) 2019/631).

The ZEV mandate requires that vehicle manufacturers sell an increasing percentage of new ZEV cars and vans each year from 2024 (GB) and 2025 (NI), ultimately reaching 100% by 2035. The ZEV mandate also sets mandatory CO2 emissions targets for new non-ZEV cars and vans sold during the period to prevent their emissions worsening compared to the emissions of new non-ZEV cars and vans sold in 2021.

Fines are levied if a manufacturer exceeds their specific emissions target or fails to meet their ZEV sale target. However, the trading scheme aspect of the ZEV mandate means manufacturers may use overperformance in emissions or in ZEV sales to compensate for underperformance in the other, thereby reducing their potential fine. Manufacturers may also ‘trade’ in this way with other manufacturers, or ‘pool’: group together to be considered as one entity for the purposes of the Regulation.

Assimilated EU law for new car and van CO2 emissions

Regulation (EU) 2019/631 was an assimilated EU law that was the UK’s primary regulation for setting car and van CO2 emissions standards. In Great Britain in 2024 and in Northern Ireland from 2025, the ZEV mandate replaced Regulation (EU) 2019/631.

Regulation (EU) 2019/631 set mandatory fleet average CO2 emission targets for new cars and vans sold in the UK. Car and van manufacturers were set individual specific average emission targets, in grams of CO2 per kilometre, based on the average mass of their fleet compared to the average mass of all the vehicles within regulatory scope. Targets were set annually on a calendar year basis, and fines (excess emission premiums) were levied if a manufacturer exceeded their specific emissions target.

Northern Ireland regulations for new car and van CO2 emissions

Originally, Regulation (EU) 2019/631 was in effect listed in the Northern Ireland Protocol, meaning that Northern Ireland continued to be captured by the EU’s car and van CO2 regime following the end of the Brexit transition period.

However, on 18 December 2020 a decision by the EU-UK Joint Committee effectively reversed this position, removing the regulations from the Northern Ireland Protocol as they were not deemed relevant to placing vehicles on to the market. This left Northern Ireland without any car and van CO2 regulation from 1 January 2021, which could have allowed manufacturers to sell highly polluting vehicles in Northern Ireland without repercussion.

Legislation to bring regulation to Northern Ireland was therefore prioritised (SI 2021/898) and in effect created a UK wide regime from 1st September 2021.

The new Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes Order was made in December 2023 and replaced Regulation (EU) 2019/631 in Great Britain only, as there was no functioning executive in place in Northern Ireland at that time to legislate for Northern Ireland. Now that the executive has resumed post, Northern Ireland will join VETS in January 2025.

Information for drivers

Below are facts to bear in mind for anyone owning or driving a car who is wondering how the Regulations will affect them:

The regulations are purely a matter for manufacturers. They will not directly require drivers or car buyers to do anything differently. However, manufacturers might encourage sales of their more fuel-efficient models in order to ensure that they meet the target that they have been given.

They work on an average basis. They do not require individual cars to meet a particular threshold for CO2 (unlike air quality legislation)

They only apply to new cars. They do not mean that older, higher-emitting cars have to be taken off the road.

Health effects of air pollution from road vehicles

Regulations to reduce emissions from cars and vans are important in helping the Government make good on the UK’s climate change obligations. They are also important in improving the quality of the air we all breathe.

The health effects of air quality pollutants from road vehicles vary widely between individuals and population sub-groups. Air pollution particularly affects the elderly, children, and those suffering from chronic respiratory diseases (e.g. bronchitis and asthma) and heart disease.

The effects of road vehicle exhaust gases are described in more detail below:

CO	Carbon monoxide reduces the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity which can reduce the availability of oxygen to key organs. Extreme levels of exposure, such as might occur due to blocked flues in domestic boilers, can be fatal. At lower concentrations CO may pose a health risk, particularly to those suffering from heart disease.
NOx	Oxides of nitrogen is the total amount of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitric oxide (NO); NO quickly reacts in the atmosphere to form NO2.  Exposure to NO2 at roadside concentrations can have adverse effects on health, particularly among people with respiratory illness. The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants has identified that the evidence associating exposure to NO2 with health effects has strengthened substantially in recent years. NOx also contributes to smog formation, and acid rain, can damage vegetation, contributes to ground-level ozone formation, and can react in the atmosphere to form fine particles (‘secondary particles’).
PM	Particulate matter. Exposure to fine particles has an adverse effect on human health, particularly among those with existing respiratory disorders. Particulate matter is associated with respiratory and cardiovascular problem.
HC	Hydrocarbons contribute to ground-level ozone formation leading to risk of damage to the human respiratory system. Some kinds of hydrocarbons, in addition, are both carcinogenic and indirect greenhouse gases.

Emissions of these air quality pollutants from road vehicles have been reduced by improving the quality of fuels and by setting stringent emission limits for new vehicles, which has encouraged the fitting by manufacturers of appropriate technology. As an example, it would take >50 new cars to produce the same quantity of particulate matter per kilometre as that produced by one new car made in 1970.