New 'ban' for millions of drivers means they face paying £1,000 to stay on road The ZEV mandate from the Labour Party government has changed at the beginning of April with a new phase out date of 2030. The ZEV mandate from the Labour Party government has changed at the beginning of April with a new phase out date of 2030. A petrol and diesel car ban deadline risks putting motorists in 'jeopardy' of paying £1,000 more to drive. The ZEV mandate from the Labour Party government has changed at the beginning of April with a new phase out date of 2030. Colin Walker, Head of Transport at the ECIU, said: "While pitched as a response to the economic chaos of Trump’s tariffs, these changes could actually make things worse, costing UK consumers. ‌ "With less onus on manufacturers to compete to sell EVs in the UK, and the Government encouraging them to sell more hybrids instead, potentially millions of families could be left to foot a bill of up to £1050 a year for more expensive driving." Article continues below READ MORE Drivers urged to follow one unwritten rule that'll save them £9,000 He warned that the UK was in the "fast lane" for EV sales, despite global experts identifying the ZEV mandate as having "successfully helped British consumers make the switch to electric driving in record numbers,the Government has chosen to weaken it". He added: "But these changes will mean fewer second-hand EVs available to the 80 per cent of us who buy our cars on the used market. ‌ "Given how popular EVs are with their drivers, this looks like bad policy for families, driving up the nation’s driving bill. It also means billions of pounds of investment into the charging network is now in jeopardy, costing jobs and holding back economic growth." Under the newly revised government plans, car manufacturers will be granted a series of allowances aimed at easing their transition toward stricter emissions targets and upcoming vehicle regulations. One of the key adjustments includes a reduction in the financial penalties for non-compliance. Previously, automakers faced a fine of £15,000 for each vehicle sold that did not meet the required standards. Article continues below Under the updated framework, this penalty has been lowered to £12,000 per non-compliant vehicle, providing a bit of financial breathing room for manufacturers as they work toward full compliance. In addition to the lowered fines, the revised policy introduces tailored exemptions for low-volume carmakers, particularly high-end supercar brands. These adjustments form part of a broader strategy to strike a balance between encouraging the shift toward cleaner, greener transportation and recognizing the operational and financial realities faced by different sectors of the automotive industry.