Britain’s charging industry has criticised suggestions that the government could weaken its electric car sales targets, warning that investors and drivers could bear the cost of sudden policy changes.
Ministers are reportedly considering reducing the share of new cars that must be fully electric by 2030 from 80% to 60%. The move follows pressure from manufacturers concerned about costs, jobs and consumer demand. The government has not made a final decision 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.
Charging bosses insisted that infrastructure was already being delivered and should not be blamed for the challenges facing carmakers.
The warning came a day after the publication of Reverse the Charge, an impact assessment by EV newsletter The Fast Charge in partnership with charging company Zest. It found that fixed grid charges paid to keep a single rapid charger live had risen by 616% since 2021, from £61.47 a week to £440.13. The report warned that rapid charging could exceed £1 per kWh next year, with drivers who lack off-street parking likely to be hit hardest. It called on Ofgem to urgently address the capacity-based billing behind the increase.
Industry says certainty is essential
Robin Heap, chief executive of Zest, said investors needed confidence, which in turn depended on certainty. He argued that speculation about weakening the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate sent the wrong signal to businesses committing millions to Britain’s electric future.
Heap said the transition needed long-term planning rather than short-term concessions. He also pointed to Ofgem’s fixed electricity grid charges, which he described as disproportionate, saying they were already causing charging projects to be scaled back or shelved. Further uncertainty over EV targets risked delaying investment, slowing progress and leaving drivers worse off, he added, and could make the UK less attractive for investment than other markets.
The intervention follows reports of disagreement within government over how far to relax the ZEV mandate, which requires manufacturers to sell an increasing proportion of electric cars. Manufacturers have warned that demand is not keeping pace with the targets, while EV advocates argue 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.
Flexibility and van concerns
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 increasing and more affordable electric models available, she said now was the time to build confidence rather than weaken it, and the government should not let private companies dictate environmental policy.
Buckley said the ZEV mandate already includes substantial flexibilities, and analysis suggests the car market collectively is ahead of its estimated requirement once CO2 flexibilities are included. She argued that vans needed separate consideration because electric cars and vans are moving at very different speeds, leaving some manufacturers relying 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 in place 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 a consistent policy framework would help deliver both.
Investors have also warned that repeated changes to the rules could make Britain a less attractive place to fund new charging infrastructure. A decision on the mandate is expected after further ministerial discussions.