Tesla, the electric car company led by Elon Musk, recently lobbied the UK government to increase the cost of petrol and diesel vehicles in order to encourage more people to buy electric cars (EVs). This move came shortly after the Labour Party’s victory in the UK general election.

In a letter to UK roads minister Lilian Greenwood, Tesla's European leader, Joe Ward, recommended extending the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate to include lorries and strengthening the policy to promote EV adoption. The ZEV mandate requires carmakers to sell a set number of electric vehicles each year. Companies that don’t meet these targets must buy credits from others that have sold more EVs. Tesla stands to benefit significantly from this policy by selling surplus credits from its Chinese-made electric vehicles.

Tesla also suggested that the UK government could fund EV subsidies by charging higher fees for those buying new petrol and diesel cars. This proposal would help further support the transition to electric transportation, in line with the Labour Party’s goals of decarbonizing the energy system by 2030.

Despite praising the Labour Party's stance on environmental policies, Elon Musk's outspoken criticism of UK politics and the government led to tensions, including his exclusion from an important UK investment summit. In addition to advocating for the ZEV mandate, Tesla also urged the UK to take a leading role in the development of autonomous vehicles, offering to demonstrate its vision for the future of self-driving technology.

Source: BBC.co.uk