The UK's electric vehicle charging industry has pushed back against reports that ministers are considering weakening the country's 2030 electric car sales target, warning that a change of direction would deter investment and raise costs for drivers.
According to the reports, the government is weighing a reduction in 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 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 on the mandate is expected after further ministerial discussions this week.
Charging costs under scrutiny
The intervention came a day after the publication of Reverse the Charge, an impact assessment produced by the EV newsletter The Fast Charge in partnership with charging firm Zest. The report 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. It warns that rapid charging could exceed £1 per kWh next year, hitting drivers without off-street parking hardest, and calls on Ofgem to urgently address the capacity-based billing behind the increase.
Robin Heap, chief executive of Zest, said investment follows confidence and confidence depends on certainty, arguing that speculation about weakening the ZEV mandate sends the wrong signal to businesses committing millions to Britain's electric future. He said the transition needs long-term thinking rather than short-term concessions, and that fixed electricity grid charges are already causing charging projects to be scaled back or shelved. Further uncertainty over EV targets risks delaying investment, slowing progress and leaving drivers worse off, he added, and combined with these pressures could make the UK less attractive for investment than other markets.
Manufacturers and advocates divided
The row follows reports of disagreements within government over how far to relax the Zero Emission Vehicle (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.
Almost one in three new cars sold in October was fully electric, according to public data from New AutoMotive.
Ginny Buckley, chief executive of the 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 the direction. With rising uptake and a growing choice of affordable electric models, she argued, now is the time to build confidence rather than weaken it, and the government must not let private companies dictate environmental policy. Buckley said the 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, since electric cars and vans are moving at very 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 businesses' practical barriers and set a more realistic trajectory for vans.
Drivers without driveways
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 to electric. Keeping ambitious targets in place would help ensure drivers have access to more affordable electric cars, particularly those without driveways, who often face the biggest barriers, he said, adding that drivers need more choice and greater confidence and that 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.