Charging industry executives have challenged the UK government’s reported willingness to soften electric vehicle sales targets, warning that weaker rules would add uncertainty to a sector already facing rising infrastructure costs.
Ministers are reportedly considering cutting 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.
The response followed an impact assessment titled Reverse the Charge, produced by EV newsletter The Fast Charge in partnership with charging company Zest. It 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 rapid charging could pass £1 per kWh next year, hitting drivers without off-street parking hardest, and called on Ofgem to urgently address 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 argued 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. Those pressures, he added, made the UK less attractive for investment than other markets.
The intervention comes amid reported 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, while EV advocates argue 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.
Flexibility 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 EV uptake rising and more affordable models available, she argued that now is the time to build confidence rather than weaken it, and that the government must 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 very different speeds. Some manufacturers are relying on surplus electric car credits to avoid fines on van sales, she said; purchase grants and charging support already exist, but ministers should assess whether they address businesses’ practical barriers and set a more realistic trajectory for vans.
Access and investor confidence
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 in place would help ensure drivers can access 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 have also 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. A decision on the mandate is expected following further ministerial discussions.