Charging industry leaders have pushed back against claims that Britain is unprepared for electric cars, as ministers reportedly consider reducing the share of new cars that must be electric by 2030 from 80% to 60%.
The intervention came a day after Reverse the Charge, an impact assessment produced by the EV newsletter The Fast Charge in partnership with charging firm Zest, reported that the fixed grid charges paid to keep a single rapid charger live have risen 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 drivers who lack off-street parking likely to be hit hardest, and calls on Ofgem to urgently fix the capacity-based billing behind the increase.
Ministers are said to be weighing the cut in response to pressure from manufacturers concerned about costs, jobs and consumer demand. Charging executives, however, argue that the infrastructure is already being delivered and should not be blamed for the difficulties facing carmakers.
Investment warning
Robin Heap, chief executive of Zest, said investment follows confidence and confidence depends on certainty, arguing that speculation about weakening the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate sends the wrong signal to businesses committing millions of pounds to Britain's electric future. He called for long-term thinking rather than short-term concessions, and said Ofgem's disproportionate fixed grid charges were already causing charging projects to be scaled back or shelved. Further uncertainty over the targets, he warned, risks delaying investment and ultimately leaving drivers worse off, while making the UK less attractive for investment than other markets.
Dispute over mandate flexibilities
The comments follow reports of disagreement inside Government over how far the ZEV mandate, which requires manufacturers to sell an increasing proportion of electric cars, should be relaxed. Manufacturers have warned that demand is not keeping pace with the targets, while EV advocates argue the existing rules already leave carmakers considerable room to meet their obligations. According to public data from New AutoMotive, almost one in three new cars sold in October was fully electric.
Ginny Buckley, chief executive of the electric car buying and advice site Electrifying.com, said drivers and businesses need a clear road ahead at a time when uptake is rising and more affordable electric models are arriving, and argued that private companies should not dictate environmental policy. She 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. Vans, she added, need separate consideration because 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. Keeping ambitious EV targets in place, he argued, would help ensure drivers have access to more affordable electric cars, particularly those without driveways who often face the biggest barriers, and a consistent policy framework would deliver both 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 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.