Electric car charging fund slashed: is going electric still worth it?
July 07, 2025 by Siobhan Doyle
Car changing is a big deal
The UK Government has slashed funding for a major rapid EV charging project, sparking doubts about hitting net zero and leaving drivers questioning if going electric is still the smart choice.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has scrapped a 拢900m fund that was supposed to speed up installing fast EV chargers at motorway service stations. Instead, they鈥檙e putting in 拢400m over the next five years, focusing more on getting chargers into less wealthy areas.
The original fund was set up back in 2020 under then-PM Rishi Sunak to upgrade power networks along motorways so more electric cars could charge at once. But it never got officially approved and just stalled. Now Reeves has swapped it out for this smaller plan.
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Why it matters for you
If you鈥檙e thinking of buying an electric car, or already have one, charging infrastructure matters. Long-distance travel relies heavily on fast, reliable charging at service stations, especially as EVs become more popular. With this cut in funding, critics say there鈥檚 a risk the rollout won鈥檛 keep pace with growing demand.
Sue Robinson, chief executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), called the decision 鈥渄isappointing,鈥 warning that a lack of charging points is now the biggest reason drivers are hesitant to make the switch to electric. 鈥淲ithout sufficient charging points, many drivers remain hesitant to make the switch,鈥 Robinson said.
Where is the new money going?
Rather than focusing on motorway services, the new 拢400m fund will support charging stations in areas that have struggled to attract private investment: often lower-income or rural communities. That shift may help bring EV benefits to a wider range of people, but industry insiders worry it leaves major travel routes underprepared.
John Lewis, CEO of on-street charging provider char.gy, questioned why the full 拢900m wasn鈥檛 redirected toward other electric car initiatives such as on-street charging or consumer incentives. 鈥淐ouldn鈥檛 the full amount have been directed towards the EV effort?鈥 he asked.
EV adoption on the rise, but still behind target
Electric cars made up just over 24% of new car sales in June, according to new SMMT data. That鈥檚 a healthy number, but still below the 28% needed this year to meet the Government鈥檚 own zero-emission targets.
What鈥檚 more, 鈥渃harge anxiety鈥 鈥 the fear of not being able to find a charger 鈥 is now a bigger worry than range anxiety for most would-be EV drivers, a recent Ipsos Mori poll revealed.
鈥淭he rapid charging fund was designed to support the rollout of charging infrastructure on motorways and major A roads, but the previous Government did not set out detailed plans to deliver this,鈥 a Department for Transport spokesperson stated.
Even with the funding cut, the UK鈥檚 EV charging network is still growing. By May 2025, there were over 80,000 public chargers 鈥 a 29% jump from last year, according to data company Zapmap.
The Government says it鈥檚 still serious about electric cars and hitting net zero, but this funding change has raised some doubts among drivers and industry experts. As more people switch to electric, making sure there are enough chargers will be key to keeping everyone on board.
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