Lower Carbon Fuels Essential to Accelerate Net Zero as EU reshapes its EV mandate

LONDON 17 December 2025

Following the European proposals to change the EU's combustion engine ban, Fuels Industry UK is calling for UK policymakers to also make greater use of lower carbon fuels in a more "technology-neutral" approach that decarbonises the UK's existing fleet alongside the customer-led transition to Electric Vehicles (EVs).

While purchases of EVs and hybrids have grown in recent years, there are 33 million cars that use fuels in the UK today - well over 90% which will need fuels for decades to come. Lower carbon fuels offer an immediate, "ready-to-go" solution that can be ramped up quickly, do not require consumers to buy new vehicles and offer an efficient and effective decarbonisation of transport by utilising existing infrastructure.

• The fuels sector already delivers lower carbon fuels that save over 7 million tonnes of carbon annually - the equivalent of taking 3 million cars off the road.
• These fuels work in existing engines and use current refuelling infrastructure, allowing every motorist to reduce their emissions today.
• A multi-technology strategy supports consumer led EV growth while ensuring best use is made of the millions of ICE and hybrid vehicles remaining on the road in the 2030s and beyond.

Elizabeth de Jong, Chief Executive Officer at Fuels Industry UK said: "The EU's decision reflects a global reality: that we need all technologies to reduce transport emissions. Currently the EU - and UK's - transport decarbonisation policy is too focused on only reducing tailpipe emissions. By taking a technology-neutral approach, the UK can support fuel manufacturing by ramping up lower carbon fuels while simultaneously seeing growth in the EV market. We don't have to wait for every car to be replaced to see a massive impact; we can scale and deliver these fuels now."

ENDS