It has been a difficult week for Europe’s electric vehicle future.

The European Union has reigned back on its targets to rid the continents of new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2035, with a move to seeing if ICE vehicles can be moved to biofuels in an effort to reduce emissions.

It has announced from 2035 onwards, European carmakers will need to comply with a 90% tailpipe emissions reduction target, while the remaining 10% emissions will need to be compensated through the use of low-carbon steel Made in the Union, or from e-fuels and biofuels.

This will allow for plug-in hybrids (PHEV), range extenders, mild hybrids, and internal combustion engine vehicles to still play a role beyond 2035, in addition to full electric (EVs) and hydrogen vehicles.

In The UK the leader of opposition, Kemi Badenoch said that if her Conservative party were to return to power the plans to outlaw new ICE vehicles by 2035 would simply be scrapped.

There are growing concerns over the willingness of consumers to make the switch and that sentiment seems to have been backed by new data from EY.

It found that customers’ enthusiasm around Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) has seen a fall in momentum, while buying intent for petrol and diesel vehicles has bounced back.

The EY Mobility Consumer Index found 41% of UK respondents intending to buy a vehicle in the next two years said their preference would be an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), up from 36% in 2024, and more than double the proportion of respondents intending to buy a BEV (19%).

This contrasts with last year’s Mobility Consumer Index findings, which highlighted a fall in ICE buying intent, with an increasing proportion of UK consumers (59%) looking to cleaner and greener vehicles, which has now eased to 50%.

According to the survey, which was carried out in September and October 2025, expensive upfront purchase costs was the top factor deterring respondents from opting for an electric vehicle (EV), which includes BEVs, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), Hybrids and Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs), with 41% citing this reason. Meanwhile, limited range (36%) and expensive battery replacement (30%) were the next most prominent reasons among respondents for choosing not to go electric with their next vehicle purchase.

Maria Bengtsson, EY UK & Ireland mobility leader, said: “UK BEV sales have seen significant growth in recent times, so it is surprising that the latest UK Mobility Consumer Index indicates a shift in preferences back towards petrol and diesel vehicles.

“Meanwhile, although BEV market share in the UK continues to trail the 28% Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate target, these sentiment figures shouldn’t be a major cause for concern and there are still reasons for optimism.”

“The shift in consumer preferences towards ICE vehicles in this year’s index is unlikely to be a sustained trend as we approach the 2030 ban on the sale of new ICE vehicles, but it does mark a step back for consumer sentiment towards EVs in the UK,” she added.

What the future holds for electric vehicles is yet to be seen but the European willingness to explore biofuel use adds a new dynamic and one which adds to the ongoing debate on a sustainable future.

Jon Guy, Editor,

Emerging Risks