Charging industry leaders have challenged suggestions that Britain is not ready for electric cars after reports that ministers may cut the proportion of new cars required to be electric by 2030 from 80% to 60%.
The reported proposal follows pressure from manufacturers concerned about costs, jobs and consumer demand. It would weaken the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, which requires carmakers to sell an increasing share of electric models. The Government says no final decision has been taken, and a decision is expected after further ministerial discussions this week.
Rapid-charging costs
The charging industry’s response comes after an impact assessment titled Reverse the Charge, produced 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, with the sharpest impact on drivers who lack off-street parking, and calls on Ofgem to urgently fix the capacity-based billing behind the increase.
Robin Heap, chief executive of Zest, said investment depends on confidence, and confidence depends on certainty. He argued that speculation about weakening the ZEV mandate sends the wrong signal to businesses committing millions to Britain’s electric future, and that the transition needs long-term thinking rather than short-term concessions. Heap added that Ofgem’s fixed electricity grid charges 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. Those pressures, he said, make the UK less attractive for investment than other markets.
Market evidence and flexibilities
Public data from New AutoMotive showed that almost one in three new cars sold in October was fully electric. EV advocates argue that existing rules already give manufacturers considerable room to meet their obligations, even as carmakers warn that demand is not keeping pace with the targets.
Ginny Buckley, chief executive of electric car buying and advice site Electrifying.com, said drivers and businesses need a clear road ahead, yet ministers appear unable to agree on direction. With EV uptake rising and more affordable models available, she argued, the priority should be 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 suggests the car market collectively is ahead of its estimated requirement once CO2 flexibilities are included.
She also 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, she added, but ministers should assess whether they address businesses’ practical barriers and set a more realistic trajectory for vans.
Drivers without driveways
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 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. A consistent policy framework, he said, would help deliver more choice and greater confidence.
Investors have warned that repeated changes to the rules could make Britain a less attractive place to fund new charging infrastructure. The Government 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.
The central question is whether weakening the 2030 car target will ease pressure on manufacturers or undermine confidence among charging investors and drivers who rely on public infrastructure.