Britain’s charging industry has pushed back against suggestions that the government may weaken its electric vehicle sales targets, arguing that infrastructure is being delivered and that policy uncertainty would deter investment.
Ministers are reportedly considering reducing the share of new cars that must be fully electric by 2030 from 80% to 60%, following pressure from manufacturers concerned about costs, jobs and consumer demand. The government says no final decision has been taken and that 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 is expected after further ministerial discussions this week.
Rapid charging costs under scrutiny
The intervention came a day after 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 have risen by 616% since 2021, from £61.47 a week to £440.13. The report warns that rapid charging could exceed £1 per kWh next year, hitting drivers without off-street parking hardest, and calls on Ofgem to urgently fix the capacity-based billing behind the rise.
Charging executives reject the idea that infrastructure is the obstacle. 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 (ZEV) mandate sends the wrong signal to businesses committing millions to Britain’s electric future, adding that the transition needs long-term thinking rather than short-term concessions. Heap also said disproportionate fixed electricity grid charges from Ofgem are already causing charging projects to be scaled back or shelved, and that further uncertainty over EV targets risks delaying investment, slowing progress and leaving drivers worse off.
The dispute 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, EV advocates argue the existing rules already give carmakers 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 need a clear road ahead, yet even ministers appear unable to agree on direction. With EV uptake increasing and more affordable models available, she argued it is time to build confidence rather than weaken it, and said the government must not let private companies dictate environmental policy. Buckley 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. She said vans need separate consideration because electric cars and vans are 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 exist, she added, but ministers should assess whether they address businesses’ practical barriers and set a more realistic trajectory for vans.
The row also raises questions about drivers who cannot charge at home and depend on public charging. 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 switching to electric. 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 greater confidence, he said, and a consistent policy framework would help deliver both.
Investors are warning that repeated changes to the rules could make Britain a less attractive place to fund new charging infrastructure.