UK charging industry leaders have criticised suggestions that the government could weaken its 2030 electric vehicle sales target, warning that drivers and investors could bear the cost of renewed policy uncertainty.
Ministers are reportedly considering reducing the share of new cars that must be electric by 2030 from 80% to 60%. The move follows pressure from manufacturers concerned about costs, jobs and consumer demand. Charging executives, however, argue that the infrastructure is already being delivered and should not be blamed for the difficulties facing carmakers.
Rapid charging costs under scrutiny
The intervention came a day after a report, Reverse the Charge, examined the fixed grid charges paid to keep a single rapid charger operating. The impact assessment, produced by EV newsletter The Fast Charge in partnership with Zest, found that those charges had risen by 616% since 2021, from £61.47 a week to £440.13. It warned that rapid charging could pass £1 per kWh next year, with drivers who lack off-street parking likely to be hit hardest, and called on Ofgem to fix the capacity-based billing behind the increase.
Robin Heap, chief executive of Zest, said investment follows confidence and confidence depends on certainty. He warned that speculation about weakening the zero-emission vehicle mandate sends the wrong signal to businesses committing millions of pounds to Britain’s electric future. According to Heap, the transition needs long-term thinking rather than short-term concessions. He added that Ofgem’s fixed electricity grid charges were already causing charging projects to be scaled back or shelved, and that further uncertainty over EV targets risked delaying investment, slowing progress and leaving drivers worse off. Those pressures, he said, made the UK less attractive for investment than other markets.
Industry points to growing EV uptake
The dispute has exposed disagreements within government over how far to relax the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, which requires manufacturers to sell an increasing proportion of electric cars. Manufacturers have warned that demand is not keeping pace with the targets. EV advocates counter that the existing rules already give carmakers considerable room to meet their obligations.
Almost one in three new cars sold in October was fully electric, according to public data from New AutoMotive. Ginny Buckley, chief executive of electric car buying and advice site Electrifying.com, said drivers and businesses needed a clear road ahead, yet even ministers appeared unable to agree on direction. With EV uptake rising and more affordable models available, she argued that now was the time to build confidence rather than weaken it, and that the government should not let private companies dictate environmental policy.
Buckley also said the ZEV mandate already includes substantial flexibilities, and that analysis suggested the car market collectively was ahead of its estimated requirement once CO2 flexibilities were included. She said vans needed separate consideration because electric cars and vans were moving at very different speeds, leaving some manufacturers reliant on surplus electric car credits to avoid fines on van sales. Purchase grants and charging support already exist, but ministers should assess whether they address businesses’ practical barriers and set a more realistic trajectory for vans.
Yann Marston, chief revenue officer at char.gy, said the charging network was growing ahead of government targets and was ready to support more drivers switching to electric. Keeping ambitious EV targets would help ensure drivers had access to more affordable electric cars, particularly those without driveways, who often face the biggest barriers. He said drivers needed more choice and greater confidence, and that a consistent policy framework would help deliver both.
Decision awaited
Investors have warned that repeated changes to the rules could make Britain a less attractive place to fund new charging infrastructure. The government insists no final decision has been taken and says it remains committed to ending sales of new cars powered solely by petrol or diesel in 2030, with all new car and van sales required to be zero-emission by 2035. A decision on the mandate is expected after further ministerial discussions this week.