Daily Express, on Climate, 9 November 2026

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EV bosses hit back at plans to slash electric car targets

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‘Stop blaming chargers!’ EV bosses hit back at plans to slash electric car targets Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments By Daily Express 13:24, Mon, Nov 9, 2026 Updated: 13:24, Mon, Nov 9, 2026 A charging station (Image: Getty) Electric car and charging bosses have warned that plans to water down Government EV targets could leave drivers with fewer affordable cars, undermine investment and slow Britain’s switch to electric.

A furious row has erupted over reports that ministers are preparing to slash electric car targets, with industry leaders warning that motorists could pay the price. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT The Government is reportedly considering cutting its 2030 Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) target from 80% to just 60%, following pressure from car manufacturers over jobs, costs and consumer demand. But charging operators have hit back, insisting Britain’s infrastructure is already expanding ahead of Government targets and should not be blamed for the industry’s challenges.

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You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . Delvin Lane, CEO of InstaVolt, said: “But let’s be clear: charging infrastructure is not the problem. The industry needs to stop using it as an excuse for weakening the rules. We are delivering infrastructure ahead of schedule, investing billions and building a network ready to support more drivers making the switch. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT “What businesses need now is certainty, not another round of shifting goalposts.”

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT The proposed changes have raised concerns that manufacturers could face less pressure to introduce cheaper electric cars, potentially leaving motorists with less choice. Almost one in three new cars sold in October was fully electric, according to industry figures, despite warnings from manufacturers that future targets could prove difficult to meet. Ginny Buckley, chief executive of Electrifying.com, said: “Drivers and businesses need a clear road ahead, yet even ministers appear unable to agree on the direction.

With increasing uptake of EVs and a growing choice of affordable electric models, now is the time to build confidence, not weaken it and the government must not let private companies dictate environmental policy.” She pointed out that the mandate already includes substantial flexibilities, with analysis suggesting carmakers are collectively ahead of their estimated requirements once CO₂ credits are included. However, Buckley acknowledged that electric vans face different challenges and called for a more realistic approach to their targets rather than weakening ambitions for cars.

The row also raises questions about the impact on drivers without driveways, who rely on public charging and could benefit from a wider choice of affordable electric vehicles. Yann Marston, Chief Revenue Officer at char.gy, said: “Keeping ambitious EV targets in place will help ensure drivers have access to more affordable electric cars, particularly those without driveways, who often face the biggest barriers.” Meanwhile, charging companies have warned that repeated changes to Government policy risk making Britain a less attractive destination for infrastructure investment.

Andy Burnham’s new £390 car tax rule change - starts in April 2027 Andy Burnham told to bring back 2009 rules to get old petrol and diesel cars off UK roads Robin Heap, CEO of Zest, said: “Investment follows confidence, and confidence depends on certainty. Speculation about weakening the ZEV mandate sends the wrong signal to businesses committing millions to Britain’s electric future.” He added: “Changing the rules risks delaying investment, slowing progress and ultimately leaving drivers worse off.

Ultimately it makes the UK less attractive for investment compared to other markets.” No final decision on the reported changes has been confirmed, with further Government discussions expected this week. Electric cars Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments

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What we found (1)

The Daily Express reports that EV and charging bosses are pushing back against reported Government plans to cut the 2030 Zero Emission Vehicle target from 80% to 60%. It attributes the reported changes, gives the sales figures a source and says no decision has been made. The one flaw is a headline that puts in quotation marks a punchier line than anyone in the article actually said.

  1. Headline goes beyond the article

    Minor

    “‘Stop blaming chargers!’”

    Why this matters
    The headline puts the words ‘Stop blaming chargers!’ in quotation marks, as if someone said them.
    The impression it gives
    A reader takes this to be a direct quotation from one of the industry bosses.
    The context
    Nobody in the article says these words. The closest line is Delvin Lane of InstaVolt saying that charging infrastructure is not the problem and that the industry should stop using it as an excuse. The headline is a fair paraphrase of his point, but it is presented as a quotation.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“The industry needs to stop using it as an excuse for weakening the rules.”
    • Elsewhere in the article“charging infrastructure is not the problem”

    Show it in the article

What it gets right

  • “The Government is reportedly considering cutting its 2030 Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) target from 80% to just 60%”

    It reports the planned cut as a report, not a decision, and gives the actual figures. That matches other coverage of a cut of about a quarter from the 80% target.

  • “No final decision on the reported changes has been confirmed”

    It tells readers plainly that nothing has been decided, which matches the Government's own position reported elsewhere the same day.

  • “Almost one in three new cars sold in October was fully electric, according to industry figures”

    It gives the sales figure a source, and the figure matches the outlet's own earlier report of a 31.8% share.

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