Britain’s charging industry has pushed back against suggestions that the government could weaken its 2030 electric car sales target, warning that policy uncertainty and rising grid costs could deter investment and leave drivers paying more.
Ministers are reportedly considering cutting the share of new cars that must be fully electric by 2030 from 80% to 60%, following pressure from manufacturers concerned about costs, jobs and consumer demand. The government has not confirmed a change and says no final decision has been taken.
The intervention came a day after Reverse the Charge, an impact assessment by EV newsletter The Fast Charge in partnership with Zest, 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 that rapid charging could pass £1 per kWh next year, hitting drivers without off-street parking hardest, and called on Ofgem to urgently fix the capacity-based billing behind the increase.
Industry warns against weakening targets
Robin Heap, chief executive of Zest, said investment follows confidence, and confidence depends on certainty. He warned that speculation about weakening the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate sends the wrong signal to businesses committing millions to Britain’s electric future. Heap added that the transition needs long-term thinking rather than short-term concessions, and 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, adding that the combined pressures made the UK less attractive for investment than other markets.
The dispute reflects 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, while EV advocates argue that 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.
Clarity sought on cars 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 the direction. With increasing EV uptake and a growing choice of affordable electric models, she said, now was the time to build confidence rather than weaken it, and the government must 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 argued 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, but ministers should assess whether they address businesses’ practical barriers and set a more realistic trajectory for vans.
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 making the switch. Keeping ambitious EV targets in place would help ensure drivers had access to more affordable electric cars, particularly those without driveways who often face the biggest barriers, he said. Drivers needed more choice and greater confidence, 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 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 after further ministerial discussions this week.