Conclusions

Summary of Findings

[TO BE WRITTEN after data analysis is complete. Structure this as follows:]

On the ZEV Mandate: Write 2–3 sentences summarising what your data showed about EV adoption trends and whether the mandate appears to be working. Reference specific numbers from your charts.

On the CFD Scheme: Write 2–3 sentences summarising what your data showed about renewable capacity growth and price reduction. Reference specific numbers from your charts.

Answer to the Research Question

“How effective have the UK Government’s ZEV Mandate and CFD scheme been in accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy?”

[TO BE WRITTEN — give a direct, evidence-backed answer. A good structure is:]

  1. State your overall conclusion clearly
  2. Summarise the strongest evidence supporting it
  3. Acknowledge the limitations of your analysis
  4. Note what would need to happen for the policies to fully succeed

Policy Recommendations

Based on this analysis, the following policy adjustments could improve the effectiveness of both schemes:

ZEV Mandate:

  1. [Your recommendation — e.g. reintroduce consumer purchase subsidies to stimulate demand to match mandated supply]
  2. [Your recommendation — e.g. expand public charging infrastructure funding to reduce range anxiety]

CFD Scheme:

  1. [Your recommendation — e.g. review the administrative strike price setting process to avoid a repeat of the AR5 failure]
  2. [Your recommendation — e.g. prioritise grid connection reform to ensure awarded capacity can actually be built]

Limitations of this Analysis

This project has several important limitations that should be noted:

  • Data is drawn from publicly available government sources, which may not capture the full picture (e.g. SMMT data represents manufacturers’ self-reported figures)
  • The ZEV Mandate only came into force in 2024, making it too early to draw firm conclusions about its long-term effectiveness
  • This analysis does not model counterfactual scenarios (i.e. what would have happened without the policies)
  • Macroeconomic factors — inflation, energy prices, consumer confidence — affect both schemes and are difficult to isolate

Final Reflection

[TO BE WRITTEN — 2–3 sentences on what you found most surprising or interesting from doing this project, and what questions you would explore if you continued the research]