- ChargeUK reports: Weakening the ZEV mandate will slow charger rollout, raise prices, and hurt EV adoption.
- Vicky Read urges the government to stick to the mandate, cut costs, and boost charging incentives.
- The charging sector is delivering on 2030 goals but needs policy certainty to keep growing.
ChargeUK says ZEV Mandate must stay to keep UK’s EV future on track
The UK’s charging industry has issued a stark warning to the government. If the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate is weakened, the rollout of public chargers could slow down, meaning the prices would rise, and EV adoption would certainly suffer.
ChargeUK, the EV charging trade association, says the mandate has been essential in securing billions in private investment. This funding has driven a 37% growth in the public charging network over the last year. Today, nearly 75,000 charge points are available across the UK, alongside 850,000 home and workplace chargers.
Vicky Read, CEO of ChargeUK commented:
“Our response to the ZEV mandate consultation is straightforward – we need to maintain and build on the conditions that have led to the recent growth in charge point deployment, and that have been pivotal in supporting record levels of EVs sales.
The charge point industry has been working ahead of demand, installing nearly 75,000 public charge points and over ten times as many home and workplace chargers, enabling drivers to switch to EVs with confidence.”
EV sales are hitting record highs, making up over 20% of the UK’s new car registrations in January 2025. However, any change to the mandate undermines this progress. Less investment in charging would mean fewer stations, higher prices, and a tougher market for EV buyers.
ChargeUK is urging the government to leave the ZEV mandate unchanged. Instead, it suggests improving affordability by equalising VAT on public charging, reducing infrastructure costs, and expanding charging incentives. The group also wants clearer signage rules and delays on tax changes that could discourage buyers.
Vicky Read continued:
“Any change in the clear, predictable demand signal that the ZEV mandate has provided to date will negatively impact investor confidence, leading to a slow-down in rollout, higher prices for consumers and a more challenging environment in which to sell EVs.
Instead Government should stick to the existing mandate and focus on further supporting and stimulating demand for EVs.
The charging sector is already delivering the world-class charging network that will power Britain’s zero emission future. But we can only do so with continued policy certainty. We look forward to working with government to maintain the momentum we have built and ensure the UK remains at the forefront of this vital transition.”
The charging sector is on track to meet 2030 targets, with £6 billion in private investment and 10,000 new jobs expected. But industry leaders stress that policy certainty is key. With global EV ambitions changing by the minute, and NEVI funding being pulled out from the US, the UK must forge ahead with confident, reliable infrastructure.
