Repairable, reliable, affordable: The UK's EV playbook from the EV SUMMIT

Shoosmiths Partner Chris Pritchett spoke at the EV Summit in Oxford, joining a panel on funding models and investment in EV infrastructure. He addressed key barriers including cost, regulation, and technology, offering insights into future opportunities.

Shoosmiths’ energy & infrastructure Partner, Chris Pritchett, was a speaker at EV Summit, hosted in Oxford. Chris participated in a panel discussion focused on funding models and investment opportunities, whilst also identifying and addressing barriers such as cost, regulatory hurdles, and technological limitations.

Now in its eighth year, the UK EV Summit focused on accelerating the shift from early adopters to the early mainstream by tackling critical challenges such as boosting EV sales, expanding safe and accessible charging infrastructure, and ensuring affordability for all. Over two days, delegates engaged in high-level panels, visionary discussions, and strategic networking to drive innovation and collaboration toward a sustainable, electrified future. Ade Thomas, founder of the summit, set the tone with a clear message: the ultimate goal is a world “where charging becomes a joy, not a chore.” Gill Nowell of Green.TV Media highlighted the sector’s rapid growth, noting that just 15 years ago there were only 200 EVs on UK roads but by 2030, projections suggest nine million, or one in four vehicles.

Lawyers from across our mobility and energy & infrastructure sectors attended the event and provided their key takeaways from the summit:

Location of summit not a coincidence

The first day of the summit opened with an address from Oxford’s Lord Mayor, Louise Upton, who reaffirmed the City Council’s commitment to EVs as the future. She highlighted the council’s decade-long sustainability efforts, including a 2040 net zero target, nine dedicated taxi charging stations, initiatives to improve air quality such as the zero-emission zone (ZEZ) which had a role in encouraging fleets like Royal Mail to go electric. Upton also showcased the Energy Superhub Oxford, which serves around 135 vehicles a day making it the UK’s most powerful EV charging hub with 42 bays and capacity to expand to 400, with 15 million EVs charged to date and a heat pump on site to power nearby council homes. All this, born from collaborations sparked at previous EV Summits, underscoring the importance of such partnerships in driving the EV transition. Chris also played a pivotal role in this project and so it was great to return to the scene.

Auto Trader highlights UK’s rapid EV transition

Auto Trader’s Chief Commercial Officer, Ian Plummer, unveiled the Road to 2030 mid-term report as the UK nears its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate deadline to phase out new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. He highlighted significant progress: 1.6 million fully EVs now on UK roads-over seven times more than in 2020, with an average range of up to 290 miles. EVs now account for 22% of new car sales and public charge points have surged to 85,000 (four times more than in 2020). Auto Trader is driving adoption by making used EVs mainstream, with one in six used car enquiries now electric, up from two percent in 2020. Plummer also noted rapid innovation, with 150 EV models across nearly 50 brands and a new electric model launching roughly every 10 days, signalling major technological leaps. He also highlighted that 41% of new consumers will consider EVs as their next choice of car, which is up from 33% last year, and 90% of current EV owners would buy an EV again, although cost remains a key blocker for consumer adoption with roughly a 20% cost difference between an EV and Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicle.

Focussing on the EV charging infrastructure, Plummer highlighted that 76% of EV owners have a home charger and 33% have used a public charger in the past month, with 22% never having used a public charge point to date. To help progress this, Plummer recommended a focus on innovation behind the charging technology to boost consumer confidence.

The rapid adoption of EVs is creating a major fiscal challenge for governments because EVs do not pay fuel duty, which currently generates around £25 billion annually in the UK. As petrol and diesel use declines, this revenue is projected to fall to near zero by 2040, leaving a £28–35 billion shortfall. While EVs reduce emissions, they still contribute to road wear and congestion, so policymakers are exploring alternatives such as road pricing (pay-per-mile), higher Vehicle Excise Duty, and charging taxes. Businesses should anticipate new motoring tax frameworks that could impact fleet costs, consumer behaviour, and long-term mobility strategies.

Vauxhall leads panel on accelerating UK EV adoption

Steve Catlin, Managing Director of Vauxhall Motors opened the first panel discussion on how to boost EV sales in the UK. He remarked that the biggest challenge/transition with the market at present is the 15-week deadline ahead, referring to the ZEV Mandate, which sets strict sales targets for manufacturers. By 2025, at least 28% of all new car sales and 16% of new van sales must be zero-emission vehicles (mainly battery electric or hydrogen fuel cell). This is part of a phased approach leading to the ban on new petrol and diesel cars in 2030, with hybrids allowed until 2035. Manufacturers that fail to meet the 2025 target face fines of up to £15,000 per non-compliant car (or £9,000 for vans), though recent updates have introduced some flexibility, such as credit trading and phased penalties.

The panel session, which included Catlin was moderated by Ade Thomas of Green.TV Media and featured experts from Coventry City Council, Electrifying.com, and Connected Kerb.

As EV adoption accelerates under the ZEV Mandate, requiring 28% of new car sales to be zero-emission by 2025, government revenues from fuel duty (worth £25 billion annually) are set to collapse, creating a £28–35 billion shortfall by 2040. Meanwhile, VAT on public charging remains 20% versus 5% for home charging, penalising drivers without off-street parking and slowing equitable adoption. Vauxhall, offering fully electric versions of every model and supporting affordability through the £1,500 Electric Car Grant, stressed that with 40% car owners not actually having a driveway for personal EV chargers, government schemes for public charging are key for adoption growth. On the supply side, procurement is a major bottleneck: fleets and corporates face long lead times, high upfront costs, and uncertainty over residual values, while infrastructure planning and grid readiness add complexity. These combined fiscal, regulatory, and operational pressures mean businesses must anticipate new motoring taxes (e.g., road pricing), factor in evolving cost structures, and adapt procurement strategies to secure vehicles and charging solutions early.

The panel agreed uptake will vary regionally, favouring areas with strong infrastructure such as Coventry, which now boasts the highest level of public charging outside London and three times more than the whole of Cornwall combined. A skills shortage was highlighted to be a contributing factor to blocking the 2030 target, where extensive knowledge of implementation and regulation are missing in the market.

Business benefits of fleet decarbonisation

In a side session, Naomi Jane Nye, Head of Sales at Drax, demonstrated how the company supports businesses in transitioning to electric fleets, using SES Water as a case study. The switch delivered a 56% reduction in running costs and prevented 18 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, achieved through a phased conversion strategy that provided valuable insights. Additionally, implementing home-based charging for its electric van fleet removed barriers and improved operational efficiency.

Product pull, simple charging, and cross‑sector collaboration

Renault’s keynote showed how product‑led appeal can spark EV momentum, with the new Renault 5 lifting the brand’s UK electric mix from 8% to 30% reducing consumer fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD). Policy and infrastructure support is growing through the Electric Car Grant, £65 million for charging, and Mobilize initiatives including 650 rapid chargers across Europe and upcoming bidirectional charging in the UK. Mobilize Charge Pass removes friction by giving app‑based access to more than 800,000 charging points across 25 countries, over 1 million in the UK and Europe combined, with route planning, digital payments, Plug and Charge, and preferential rates on high‑speed networks such as Ionity. An OVO‑hosted panel which followed, reinforced that collaboration between energy, charging and automotive is essential as anxiety shifts from range to charging access; with 40% of UK residents lacking driveways and many unlikely to adopt without affordable near‑home options, the priorities are simple, interoperable user experiences and practical solutions such as cross‑pavement charging, delivered through joined‑up partnerships.

Charging industry’s path to scale

Ryan Fisher, Head of Charging Infrastructure at Bloomberg, delivered a compelling keynote offering a global perspective on the progress of EV charging. He highlighted that regions such as Norway, Germany, California, and China are on track for more than half of their vehicle fleets to be fully electric by the 2030s, creating unprecedented demand for charging solutions. To address this challenge, Fisher outlined three critical factors: pricing, power, and profitability. While public charging is already cheaper than petrol in some markets, costs remain higher in the US and Europe, making increased competition among charge point operators essential for driving prices down and building a sustainable ecosystem. He noted that negative power prices enhance the value of charging control, with flexibility varying by electricity market size, and that electricity is beginning to dominate carbon credit programmes. However, profitability remains a major hurdle, with many operators struggling and taking on more debt. “The future of EV charging will be rocky and influence many industries,” Fisher concluded.

Shoosmiths panel: unlocking investment for EV and eHGV infrastructure

Shoosmiths’ panel session, which included Chris Pritchett, Partner (energy & infrastructure), explored the evolving investment landscape and opportunities for EV and eHGV infrastructure. “There are so many opportunities and models,” he said. “The trick is to pick the right one and create a proposition you can sell to investment committees, shareholders, and businesses so we can all drive forward together.”

Joined by moderator Gill Nowell, Lauren Pamma (Aldermore Bank), Sara Sloman (Paythru), and Vicky Read (ChargeUK), the panel highlighted how legal and planning bottlenecks affecting standard EV projects are amplified for large eHGV charging hubs. They outlined what charge point operators (CPOs) must show to attract capital: a track record of delivery, clear utilisation data from existing sites, and the ability to build brand loyalty as drivers increasingly prefer or avoid specific networks.

Payment is set to get simpler with Plug & Charge - “my phone is already my wallet; soon, my car will be,” noted Sloman. To keep investment flowing, the group called for policy and legislative certainty-critical when large sums are at stake-and ongoing support for consumers and businesses to switch to EVs, directly strengthening the investment case for CPOs.

Boosting charger utilisation and reliability

Dr Esther Taylor, Head of Research at Thatcham Research, used the afternoon keynote to argue that the UK’s circular economy depends on EVs being designed to be both repairable and insurable. Drawing on data that feeds roughly eight million insurance quotes each week, she noted that insurability strongly influences total cost of ownership and because high‑voltage batteries account for a large share of vehicle value, even limited damage can tip a claim toward a write‑off. Taylor called for industry-wide action: design vehicles and batteries with repairability in mind, standardise battery diagnostics, and scale battery repair and refurbishment networks to lower costs.

Another panel, hosted by Petalite, examined how charge point operators can lift utilisation in 2025 while building loyalty and navigating grid constraints. CEO Steven Gardener stressed that utilisation rises with consumer confidence, yet around 37% of private car buyers still cite charging infrastructure concerns as a reason not to go electric. The panel framed success as a balance of availability, utilisation, pricing, and driver experience and underscored that reliability is multi‑layered: not just hardware uptime, but also software, payments, interoperability protocols, and the wider energy system. With support helplines now a legal requirement, operators that resolve issues quickly are best placed to earn lasting brand loyalty.

Closing the first day, ChargeUK CEO Vicky Read outlined how the sector intends to deliver widespread, affordable public charging. The UK already has more than 85,000 public charge points, but adoption and utilisation hinge increasingly on price; Read argued availability is not the primary barrier, pointing instead to a 38% rise in public charging prices since 2021. ChargeUK’s new white paper recommends three actions: cut energy‑related overheads (including standing charges) and extend policy reliefs; strengthen the business case by adding public charging to the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation; and reduce VAT on public charging from 20% to 5%, aligning it with home charging and shaving up to 9.5p/kWh from driver costs.

UK industrial strategy

The final day of the EV SUMMIT opened with a keynote from Paolo Enrico F., Deputy Head of the Automotive Unit at the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, who outlined how the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy will accelerate the EV transition. This 10-year plan is designed to strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in advanced manufacturing, with a strong focus on the automotive sector. Key measures include reducing electricity costs by up to 25% and investing in clean energy infrastructure which are critical steps for both consumers and charge point operators. The strategy also introduces the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, which aims to make the UK the best place in the world to start, grow, and invest in advanced manufacturing by 2035. Batteries and automotive are two of six priority sectors, with plans to develop EV manufacturing clusters in the North-East and West Midlands to boost supply chain resilience and economies of scale.

To support this vision, the government launched the £2.5 billion DRIVE35 programme, which will fund projects such as giga factories, alongside £452 million through the Battery Innovation Programme to advance next-generation battery technologies. These initiatives sit within a broader mission to deliver strong, sustainable economic growth, underpinned by £86 billion in R&D investment, expanded access to finance, and streamlined regulation. By fostering strategic certainty for investors, promoting international trade, and aligning skills with growth sectors, the Modern Industrial Strategy sets out a clear roadmap for making the UK a global hub for EV innovation and advanced manufacturing.

Scaling infrastructure and driving electric truck adoption

A CBRE‑led panel explored how charge point operators can secure, build and run EV sites at scale amid intensifying competition, highlighting end‑to‑end models, varied ownership approaches (from leasing and financing to full vertical integration), and the importance of data‑driven site selection, AI‑enabled reliability and customer trust. While partnerships between CPOs and real‑estate owners can enhance land value, they remain complex, shaped by site quality, deployment speed and safety standards with players like Sainsbury’s Smart Charge leveraging in‑house estates for ultra‑rapid charging, and others such as 50five and GRIDSERVE prioritising flexibility and scalability. Complementing this, Volvo Trucks showcased that electric HGVs are already operating on UK roads helping fleets overcome range anxiety (up to 600km), charging access and cost barriers yet adoption remains nascent (c.0.5% of 2024 UK registrations). Unlocking broader uptake will require rapid rollout of truck‑specific charging at depots and along key corridors, underpinned by grid upgrades, policy support and deeper cross‑industry partnerships, pursuing progress over perfection.

Stabilising residuals and closing the charging gap

Cox Automotive’s panel underscored that falling used‑EV residual values (with sub‑24‑month vehicles retaining ~44%) are a double‑edged sword, improving affordability while signalling weak consumer confidence that threatens the sustainability of both new and used markets. The remedy centres on confidence‑building: better dealer training, robust and transparent battery warranties and certification, and public education to counter myths on degradation, alongside OEM actions (for example, Nissan’s active resale ecosystem management in the context of the UK ZEV mandate), and supply‑chain development for battery reconditioning, given the pivotal role stable residuals play in future investment decisions.

Electric Vehicle Association (EVA) England’s research shows momentum but a long road to mass adoption: EVs are accounting for 27% of new sales with 1.6m EVs on UK roads, yet 95% of the fleet vehicles remains ICE. The biggest brakes are misinformation (68%), cost (6 in 10), and practical barriers for those without off‑street parking, compounded by high public charging costs that 75% believe government should address. Progress is tangible: 85,000+ public charge points (+25% YoY), growing affordability (33 models under £30k; two in five used under £20k), and typical running‑cost savings near £1,000 per year, supported by innovations like near‑home charging, charge‑sharing, V2G and dynamic pricing. Converting progress into mainstream uptake now requires:

1. narrowing the private‑public charging cost gap through electricity market reform, VAT changes and support for cross‑pavement and charge‑sharing solutions;
2. improving access and ease via faster rollout of PAS 1899 accessibility standards (with a pathway to mandating), stronger tenant and leaseholder rights, simpler payments and clearer signage; and
3. expanding lower‑cost and used‑EV options through social leasing and residual‑value support underpinned by battery standards and certification.

Accessibility for disabled drivers is essential, and it improves the experience for everyone, while a “progress over perfection” mindset will help align policy, finance, retail and infrastructure to reach mass adoption.

Closing the skills gap

In her keynote, Amy-Jane Marsden, Managing Director of Pro-Tech MOT & Automotive Academy, spotlighted a looming challenge for the UK’s automotive sector, previously discussed on day one: a critical shortage of skilled technicians to support the electric transition. By 2032, around 144,000 people are expected to retire from the motor industry, yet by 2030 the UK will need at least 20,000 additional qualified EV technicians. This gap is already being felt, with some garages turning away EV work, not due to lack of demand, but because they lack the expertise. Compounding the issue, the number of MOT testers is also declining, and current MOT standards fail to address EV-specific safety checks such as charging port integrity, battery condition, and high-voltage cabling.

Marsden emphasised the urgent need for reform and upskilling. She called for the integration of EV-specific checks into the MOT regime and highlighted the importance of IMI TechSafe accreditation as a benchmark for competence and safety. This certification ensures technicians have the skills to work on advanced technologies like EVs and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and is likely to become a key trust signal for EV owners. With the EV market accelerating, making TechSafe registration a standard and embedding EV safety into MOT testing are essential steps to future-proof the industry and maintain consumer confidence.

Next phase of fleet charging

The penultimate panel explored how fleets can turn charging from a cost centre into a strategic revenue asset. Moderated by Green.TV’s Ella Power, the discussion brought together Gustavo A. Prince (Wenea), Jonny Berry (Head of Decarbonisation, Innovation & Strategy, Novuna Vehicle Solutions), Michael Potter (CEO, CarbonFree Finance) and Niall Riddell (CEO & Co‑Founder, Paua) to unpack the practicalities: medium‑sized businesses face steep upfront capital costs; a staged strategy of electrifying depots/HQs first and supplementing with public charging is proving effective; and while public charging is pricier due to infrastructure investment, better visibility of power‑use patterns by Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) and clear government funding signals can unlock deployment at scale. On‑street charging remains challenging where driveways are scarce, and depot sharing will require formal commercial agreements. Riddell stressed that seamless access to public networks is essential for vehicles without depot options or travelling longer distances, while megawatt chargers will be crucial for confidence and smart siting. Looking ahead, vehicle‑to‑grid (V2G) can monetise downtime, and reforms in payments, access, and partnerships can help fleets capture new revenue while accelerating electrification.

Women and the EV transition

The Summit’s closing panel, delivered in partnership with The Charge Scheme and Top Women in EV, tackled a critical question: how do we engage the “forgotten audience” of women, who hold 49% of UK driving licences yet remain underrepresented in EV adoption? After an introduction from Thom Groot, Co‑Founder and CEO of The Electric Car Scheme, Gill Nowell moderated a discussion featuring Mas Morton (Chief of Staff, The Charge Scheme), Michelle Breffitt (Co‑Founder, Women Drive Electric) and Erin Baker (Editorial Director, Autotrader). Safety emerged as the top priority for women when using public charging, where panellists called for well‑lit, non‑secluded locations and weather‑protected bays to build confidence. Affordability was another key theme, with salary sacrifice schemes like those offered by The Electric Car Scheme helping to make EVs more accessible.

The conversation also highlighted the need for cultural and marketing shifts. Erin Baker noted that it took years to persuade women’s magazines to feature automotive content, underscoring the importance of experiential marketing and meeting women in spaces they already occupy. Retailers and OEMs were urged to improve usability such as better cable management and clearer signage and to embrace gender‑inclusive advertising, user‑generated content, and feedback loops before purchase. With women often acting as primary caregivers, convenience and reassurance around charging are essential. Closing the gender gap in EV adoption will require a blend of infrastructure design, affordability measures, and targeted engagement strategies that reflect women’s real-world needs.

From pioneering the leaf to powering homes

Closing the summit, James Taylor, Managing Director of Nissan GB, spotlighted the transformative potential of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. The upcoming new Leaf model will feature both V2L and V2G capabilities, enabling drivers to feed energy back into the grid or power their homes directly. This innovation could turn EVs into energy assets, with the possibility of home charging becoming virtually cost-free for some users, which is an enticing prospect that underscores Nissan’s vision of EVs as integral to a smarter, more sustainable energy ecosystem.

The UK’s blueprint for an electrified mobility revolution

The Summit underscored that mass EV adoption will hinge on affordability, reliable and accessible charging, and cross‑sector collaboration, even as momentum builds with rising sales, expanding networks, and rapid tech advances. The government’s Modern Industrial Strategy adds the execution plan: £86 billion in R&D, £2.5 billion for giga factories, targeted battery innovation funding, lower energy costs, and regional manufacturing clusters to secure supply chains and investor confidence while aligning skills with growth sectors. Converting ambition into mainstream uptake now depends on coordinated action - designing repairable, insurable vehicles; ensuring equitable access to charging; securing capital for large‑scale infrastructure; and implementing supportive policies (including tax reform and VAT alignment) - alongside tackling residual‑value volatility, charging accessibility gaps, skills shortages, and gender inclusion. If these pieces come together, the UK can shift decisively from strategy to delivery, making EV ownership practical, reliable, and financially viable for all, while unlocking opportunities in fleet electrification, V2G, and collaborative business models.