Charging industry leaders have pushed back against suggestions that the UK government could weaken its 2030 electric vehicle targets, warning that a change would unsettle investors and drivers.
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. 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 executives argue that the infrastructure is already being delivered and should not be blamed for the difficulties facing carmakers. Their intervention came after "Reverse the Charge," an impact assessment by EV newsletter The Fast Charge in partnership with Zest, 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 the greatest impact on drivers who lack off-street parking, and called on Ofgem to fix the capacity-based billing behind the increase.
Investment warning
Robin Heap, chief executive of Zest, said investment depends on confidence, and confidence depends on certainty. He warned that speculation about weakening the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate sends the wrong signal to businesses committing millions to Britain's electric future. According to Heap, the transition needs long-term thinking rather than short-term concessions. He also said 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.
The debate has exposed disagreements 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. 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.
Clarity for drivers 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 appeared unable to agree on direction. With growing EV uptake and more affordable electric models, she argued, now is the time to build confidence rather than weaken it. Buckley also said the government must not let private companies dictate environmental policy. She noted that the ZEV mandate already includes substantial flexibilities and that analysis suggests the car market collectively is ahead of its estimated requirement once CO2 flexibilities are included.
Buckley said vans need separate consideration because electric cars and vans are moving at very different speeds. Some manufacturers are relying on surplus electric car credits to avoid fines on van sales. Purchase grants and charging support already exist, but she said 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. He argued that keeping ambitious EV targets would help ensure drivers have access to more affordable electric cars, particularly those without driveways, who often face the biggest barriers. Drivers need more choice and confidence, he said, and a consistent policy framework would help deliver both.
Investors have 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.