Britain’s charging industry has pushed back against suggestions that the government could weaken its 2030 electric-car sales target, warning that a change of course would undermine investor confidence and leave drivers facing higher costs.
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 government says no final decision has been taken, and further ministerial discussions are expected this week.
The warning came a day after an impact assessment titled Reverse the Charge, published by EV newsletter The Fast Charge in partnership with Zest, said fixed grid charges for keeping a single rapid charger live had risen 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, and called on regulator Ofgem to urgently address the capacity-based billing behind the increase.
Industry warns on certainty
Robin Heap, chief executive of Zest, said investment follows confidence and confidence depends on certainty. He argued 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 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. Those pressures, he added, made the UK less attractive for investment than other markets.
The ZEV mandate requires manufacturers to sell an increasing proportion of electric cars. Reports indicate disagreements within government over how far to relax the rules. 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.
Public data from New AutoMotive showed that almost one in three new cars sold in October was fully electric.
Ginny Buckley, chief executive of electric-car buying and advice site Electrifying.com, said drivers and businesses needed a clear road ahead, yet ministers appeared unable to agree on direction. With EV uptake rising and more affordable electric models available, she argued, 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 that analysis suggested the car market collectively was ahead of its estimated requirement once CO2 flexibilities were included. She added that 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, she said, but ministers should assess whether they address businesses’ practical barriers and set a more realistic trajectory for vans.
Charging access in focus
The dispute also raises questions for drivers who cannot charge at home and depend on public charging. 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. He argued that 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. Drivers needed more choice and greater 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. The government insists 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.