UK Electric Vehicle Charging Industry Bracing for £100m Business Rate Hit as Government Seeks to Boost Uptake of Green Cars.
A major shake-up in the UK's electric vehicle charging industry is on the horizon, with operators facing a potential £100m bill under new business rate changes. The government aims to boost uptake of green cars and reduce carbon emissions, but this move could prove costly for the sector.
The UK's public charging network has grown significantly since 2022 when the government first exempted charging equipment from business rates. However, now it seems that parking bays beside chargers will also be subject to these taxes. ChargeUK estimates around 64,000 of these bays could become rateable properties by next April, adding a hefty £300 annual charge for consumers if operators pass this on.
Industry leaders are warning that such a significant increase in costs could force them to slow down investment and even close sites, particularly outside London where the number of electric cars is highest. ChargeUK believes its estimates have been significantly underlined by the Valuation Office Agency's assumption of £25m cost to the sector.
To make matters worse for chargers companies, potential backdated bills may add up quickly - with some predicting that the first bill could be more than double this amount. ChargeUK is now calling on government intervention and policy changes aimed at supporting the growth of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
With businesses already under pressure due to rising electricity costs, the industry's ability to continue investing in green transport is becoming increasingly uncertain.
A major shake-up in the UK's electric vehicle charging industry is on the horizon, with operators facing a potential £100m bill under new business rate changes. The government aims to boost uptake of green cars and reduce carbon emissions, but this move could prove costly for the sector.
The UK's public charging network has grown significantly since 2022 when the government first exempted charging equipment from business rates. However, now it seems that parking bays beside chargers will also be subject to these taxes. ChargeUK estimates around 64,000 of these bays could become rateable properties by next April, adding a hefty £300 annual charge for consumers if operators pass this on.
Industry leaders are warning that such a significant increase in costs could force them to slow down investment and even close sites, particularly outside London where the number of electric cars is highest. ChargeUK believes its estimates have been significantly underlined by the Valuation Office Agency's assumption of £25m cost to the sector.
To make matters worse for chargers companies, potential backdated bills may add up quickly - with some predicting that the first bill could be more than double this amount. ChargeUK is now calling on government intervention and policy changes aimed at supporting the growth of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
With businesses already under pressure due to rising electricity costs, the industry's ability to continue investing in green transport is becoming increasingly uncertain.
and it's like a total bummer for the EV charging industry! £100m business rate hit? That's insane 
! Like, we're trying to reduce carbon emissions and save the planet here, but now it seems like the UK government is kinda... pricing us out 
. And what really gets me is that this affects small businesses too 
, not just big corporations. If they have to pass these costs on to consumers, it's gonna make EVs even more expensive than they already are 
.
. And what about rural areas where public transport is already sketchy? Do we really wanna limit growth there too? 
! Maybe they could offer some kind of subsidy or grant program for smaller businesses or help with funding infrastructure development? That'd be a step in the right direction, I guess 
.
it's like they're trying to strangle the sector with red tape before even giving it a chance to grow. 64k parking bays gettin' taxed? that's just crazy 
the government should definitely look into supporting the industry instead of just hiking taxes 
.
I mean what's next? Are we gonna have to pay for breathing now? 
. And now with these parking bays getting added to the list, I can see why they're freaking out 
. We need some support from the gov, maybe some tax breaks or something... this industry needs a push not a kick in the teeth 
. What's next? Are we gonna start charging our water bottles too? 
... think about it, just when we thought the UK was making progress on electric cars and reducing carbon emissions, now they're throwing a £100m wrench into the works? It's like, what's the point of having green cars if you can't even support the people who are trying to make them more accessible?