Six years into the UK’s 2030 petrol and diesel ban, businesses are learning how ISO 14001 can help cut costs and prove environmental compliance.
Read on to discover how an ISO 14001-certified Environmental Management System (EMS) could support your organisation’s readiness for changes such as the upcoming ban.
When Were Petrol and Diesel Vehicles Banned in the UK?
On 18th November 2020, the UK government announced a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel-powered cars and vans starting in 2030, with the sale of new hybrid vehicles scheduled to end by 2035. In 2023, the full ban was delayed to 2035, due to economic pressures.
However, in April 2025, the Labour government (elected in 2024), reinstated the original, more ambitious timeline, confirming that the ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles will remain in place for 2030, while hybrids will still be allowed until 2035. Zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) and Electric vehicles (EVs) will be the required form of new vehicles sold after this deadline. Small-volume manufacturers continue to be exempt from these requirements.
This ban applies only to the sale of new vehicles – existing petrol and diesel-powered cars can still be driven on UK roads alongside newer, more sustainable models.
Why Were They Banned?
This ban is a part of the UK’s ambitious strategy to become net zero by 2050. The government’s approach aims to accelerate the transition to cleaner transportation.
By setting a clear deadline, the UK is encouraging manufacturers and consumers to adopt more sustainable alternatives, reducing emissions from one of the country’s most significant sources of pollution.
Transport’s impact is substantial – in 2022, domestic transport accounted for 28% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
This policy also helps to drive broader environmental management approaches. Standards such as ISO 14001 can support the environmental efforts similarly driven by the vehicle ban by supporting organisations in demonstrating systematic environmental management and regulatory compliance.
Where We Stand Today
In July 2025, the government announced a £63 million package to create thousands of chargepoints at business depots across the UK, support at-home charging, and transition NHS fleets to save millions for the health service in England.
The UK’s EV market has already seen significant growth in the last five years.
- While the UK new car market experienced over 10% year-on-year decline in April 2025, plug-in vehicles – BEVs (battery electric vehicles) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) – recorded a rise and accounted for 32.1% of all new registrations in April 2025. HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles) were slightly down, with a share of 13.8%.
- Businesses currently own the majority of EVs in the UK, with 80% of PHEV registrations and 83% of BEV registrations in the first half of 2024.
- In the first quarter of 2025 there were 1,517,000 licensed ZEVs in the UK, an increase of 38%, including 1,403,000 cars.
- ZEVs accounted for 3.7% of all licensed road using vehicles, an increase of 1% compared to March 2024.
Charging infrastructure has expanded significantly, though charging in workplaces and car parks remains a key challenge. According to latest data, EV charging infrastructure grew 27% in the first half of 2025.
However, challenges persist. Fleet operators continue to face hurdles, including high upfront costs, charging infrastructure gaps in certain regions, and supply chain constraints affecting vehicle availability.
How Have Businesses Reacted to This Ban?
Since the announcement of the 2030 ban, UK businesses have demonstrated a range of responses; each bringing its own set of challenges and opportunities.
Some organisations did not prioritise the ban during the pandemic and may still need to update risk registers.
Others took early action, recognising the ban’s significance by updating their risk registers and, in many cases, setting new environmental objectives. This can help businesses manage risk and identify opportunities for improvement within their EMS.
Some businesses have embraced the transition and are actively implementing change. Particularly among companies involved in city centre and ‘last mile’ deliveries, electric vans and e-cargo bikes are now integral to their fleets. These early adopters are finding that, beyond compliance, the shift brings benefits, such as lower running costs, improved urban air quality, and a stronger reputation for environmental leadership.
Current data reveals a striking divide in EV adoption across different sectors and regions, as highlighted in PwC’s e-readiness and EV adoption survey. While some major fleet operators have made substantial progress, smaller businesses and certain geographical areas show significantly lower adoption rates.
For all organisations, the road ahead presents challenges: investment in new technology, the need for staff training, and adapting to changing infrastructure. However, the benefits, such as cost savings, regulatory readiness, and improved brand value, make the transition an important opportunity for growth and innovation.
Whether organisations are just starting to think about the ban or are already on the journey, there are practical steps every business can take to prepare.
How Organisations Could Prepare for The Petrol and Diesel Vehicle Ban by 2030
Consider ISO 14001 certification
ISO 14001 is the internationally recognised Standard for Environmental Management Systems.
Organisations with ISO 14001 certification maintain structured approaches to environmental management through measures such as risk registers. These systems support businesses in identifying, evaluating, and managing environmental risks and opportunities, such as those related to regulatory changes including the 2030 petrol and diesel car ban.
Risk management and environmental aspects
During ISO 14001 audits, organisations can demonstrate how transport-related environmental aspects are identified and evaluated. This may include emissions from business travel or fleet operations, which are considered as part of the environmental aspects register and related compliance obligations.
Examine the data
Review any data your organisation holds related to the current use patterns of vehicles.
Before investing in battery-electric cars and vans, it could be vital to calculate the maximum daily range needed. To do this, organisations could look at existing data, such as:
- Fuel cards
- Vehicle mileage
- Expense claims
Organisations often find that collecting and reviewing vehicle usage data supports informed decision-making about fleet transitions. During ISO 14001 audits, organisations may demonstrate objectives related to this type of data collection. Lease companies can also use this data to help narrow down the shortlist of appropriate vehicles for an organisation.
Data from expenses, fuel cards and vehicle trackers can help businesses understand their vehicles’ current real-world range needs. In 2025, the average electric car range is nearly 300 miles per charge on typical models, thanks to advances in battery technology and efficiency. Some can travel longer distances – for example, the Tesla Model 3 Long Range is featured among the longest-range electric vehicles and provides approximately 436 miles of range.
Consider the benefits of electric vehicles
EVs can offer solutions beyond just clean driving. Some models, such as the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5, come with advanced Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capabilities, allowing the vehicle’s battery to power external devices and tools. This feature can be especially valuable for rural businesses and those operating in remote or protected areas, enabling them to run power tools or equipment directly from the van’s electric system.
While the lease cost of battery vehicles remains higher compared to conventional vehicles, the low fuel costs may lead to whole-life cost savings, depending on vehicle usage.
How Businesses Are Adapting
Many of the largest UK fleet operators have already completed the calculations for themselves and are making the move now. It is worth noting that the UK Electric Fleets Coalition, whose members are responsible for over 400,000 fleet vehicles, have already reviewed the total cost of ownership and is already committing to adopting EVs before the 2030 deadline.
Its members include BT, Openreach, Anglian Water, Centrica, DPD UK, Fleet Alliance, Foxtons, Hitachi Capital UK, Iberdrola (Scottish Power), Ingka Group (IKEA), LeasePlan, NatWest Group, Octopus Energy, Orsted, OVO Energy, Severn Trent, Tesco, Tusker, and Unilever.
If an organisation has not examined the figures, they could make this task an environmental objective.
British Gas ordered 3,000 Vauxhall Vivaro-e electric vans in 2022 as part of its commitment to fully electrify its fleet by 2030, and the company continues to accelerate its transition toward zero emissions.
As technology advances rapidly, businesses are being encouraged to regularly reassess EV costs to identify when adoption becomes a financially prudent option.
The Path to 2030
With just five years remaining until the ban takes effect, the transition is accelerating. Government targets include 300,000 public charge points by 2030.
The market continues to evolve rapidly, with new vehicle models, improved battery technology, and expanding charging networks. Early adopters report reliable vehicles with low running costs and high levels of mechanical reliability.
Change is on the horizon, so businesses might consider incorporating planning for that change into their risk register as part of their management system.
If staff need to travel for work, an organisation may need to consider the influence and choices it has regarding travel as part of an ISO 14001-certified Environmental Management System.
Changes set by the Government give organisations a minimum benchmark to work towards. When adopted early, some environmental changes are often practical, reputationally beneficial, and cost-effective.
Using an EMS effectively can help your organisation make data-driven decisions, track environmental performance, and identify new opportunities for improvement.
If you still have question you can learn more in our What Is an Environmental Management System? guide to get more answers to your unanswered questions.
To start with, businesses might research electric vehicles – there are many resources online, including:
- Fleet News, electric news hub
- EV Magazine
- EAV – Can these electric-assisted vehicles change urban deliveries? (Featuring one of our 14001 clients)
Read our ultimate guide to ISO 14001 and discover how the standard supports organisations in demonstrating environmental compliance.
Get started on your journey to certification – contact our team to discuss your needs.
