The UK Government is said to be considering a less demanding 2030 target for zero-emission car sales. The proportion currently set at 80 per cent could fall to around 60 per cent if the proposed change goes ahead. The discussion is centred on cars, yet it matters to the broader policy environment in which the electric motorcycle market is trying to establish itself.

The UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle mandate applies to new cars and vans and does not currently include motorcycles, mopeds or scooters. A revision of the car targets would therefore leave the direct regulatory position of electric motorcycle manufacturers unchanged. Its importance is political rather than immediate: electric two-wheelers are already facing slower uptake and a substantial reduction in government support.

A dedicated grant has ended

The Plug-in Motorcycle Grant offered up to £500 towards an eligible electric motorcycle before ending in April 2026 without a replacement scheme. Electric motorcycles and other L-category vehicles have consequently lost a dedicated purchase incentive, while electric-car buyers continue to have access to similar government-backed grants.

The UK Government has defended the decision by saying that withdrawing the grant was not expected to have a significant effect on electric motorcycle uptake. Its stated rationale is that funding should go towards transport categories with higher emissions, while the development of the electric motorcycle market will be monitored.

The Motorcycle Industry Association takes a less optimistic view. A WPI Economics analysis commissioned by the association estimated that ending the grant could remove around £50 million from the UK electric motorcycle market by 2030. It also projected approximately 6,500 fewer sales of zero-emission motorcycles over the same period. The association has further pointed to the lack of a coherent long-term government strategy for zero-emission L-category vehicles.

For LiveWire, Zero Motorcycles and Maeving, the upfront price remains a barrier for many potential buyers, just as financial support has been withdrawn. A softer target for cars would not directly threaten electric motorcycle manufacturers and would not automatically trigger another cut in two-wheeler incentives. It does, however, make planning harder for companies, dealers and customers at a time when the sector is being asked to grow without a clearly defined long-term framework.