Charging industry leaders have pushed back against suggestions that Britain is not ready for electric cars, warning that a reported move to weaken the UK’s 2030 electric vehicle sales target could deter investment and raise costs for drivers.
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 response follows 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 pass £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 increase.
Infrastructure and investor confidence
Robin Heap, CEO 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 to Britain’s electric future. Heap said the transition needs long-term thinking rather than short-term concessions, adding that Ofgem’s fixed electricity grid charges 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 said, making the UK less attractive for investment than other markets.
The intervention comes amid reports of disagreement 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 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.
Ginny Buckley, chief executive of Electrifying.com, said drivers and businesses need a clear road ahead when even ministers appear unable to agree on direction. With rising EV uptake and a growing choice of affordable electric models, she argued that the government should build confidence rather than weaken it and should not let private companies dictate environmental policy. Buckley said 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 added that vans need separate consideration because electric cars and vans are moving at 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 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. Keeping ambitious EV targets, he said, 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 added, 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 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 following further ministerial discussions this week.