UK charging industry leaders have pushed back against suggestions that Britain is not ready for electric cars, warning that weakening the country’s 2030 targets could raise costs for motorists and deter investors.
Ministers are reportedly considering reducing the share of new cars that must be electric by 2030 from 80% to 60%, following pressure from manufacturers concerned about costs, jobs and consumer demand.
The warning followed the publication of Reverse the Charge, an impact assessment by EV newsletter The Fast Charge in partnership with 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 pass £1 per kWh next year, hitting drivers without off-street parking hardest, and called on Ofgem to urgently fix the capacity-based billing behind the increase.
Investment warning
Robin Heap, chief executive of Zest, said investment depends on confidence, which in turn requires certainty. He warned that speculation about weakening the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate sends the wrong signal to businesses committing millions to Britain’s electric future.
Heap added that fixed grid charges are already causing charging projects to be scaled back or shelved. Further uncertainty over EV targets risks delaying investment, slowing progress and leaving drivers worse off, he said, while making the UK less attractive for investment compared with other markets.
The intervention follows reports of disagreements within government over how far to relax the ZEV mandate, which requires manufacturers to sell an increasing proportion of electric cars. Although manufacturers have warned that demand is not keeping pace with the targets, 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.
Mandate flexibilities and vans
Ginny Buckley, chief executive of electric car buying and advice site Electrifying.com, said drivers and businesses need a clear road ahead, yet even ministers appear unable to agree on the direction. With EV uptake rising and a growing choice of affordable electric models, she argued that now is the time to build confidence rather than weaken it, and that the government must 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 added that vans need 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 is growing ahead of government targets and is ready to support more drivers making the switch to electric. Keeping ambitious EV targets in place would help ensure drivers have access to more affordable electric cars, particularly those without driveways, who often face the biggest barriers, he said. Drivers need more choice and greater confidence, and a consistent policy framework will help deliver both, he added.
Decision pending
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.