The Government is facing urgent calls to reform electric vehicle charging policy in the upcoming Autumn Budget, following a massive 67% surge in second-hand EV sales. Smart charging
The Government is facing urgent calls to reform electric vehicle charging policy in the upcoming Autumn Budget, following a massive 67% surge in second-hand EV sales.
Smart charging consultancy Versinetic has warned that high public charging tariffs, a lack of local infrastructure and compatibility issues with older vehicles risk undermining the financial benefits of the booming second-hand EV market.
According to the latest SMMT figures for Q2 2026, used battery electric vehicle sales surged 67% to hit a record 110,761 units, lifting their market share to 5.5% from 3.3% the previous year.
As EV ownership expands beyond early adopters, charging policy must increasingly reflect the needs of drivers without private driveways, those on tighter budgets and owners of older vehicles
Drawing on its analysis, Pre-Loved EVs: Used EV Charging Infrastructure Impact, Versinetic has identified six priorities for policymakers, charge point operators, hardware designers and installers.
The lower purchase price of a used EV can make electric motoring accessible to more households, but drivers without private parking may face significantly higher charging costs than those using domestic electricity tariffs.
Versinetic is calling on the Chancellor to reduce VAT on public charging from 20% to 5%, bringing it into line with domestic electricity. It also recommends supporting software solutions that could connect public charging to home energy tariffs, helping drivers access more consistent pricing.
With Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) due to introduce a mileage-based charge from April 2028, policymakers should consider the combined impact of taxation, charging costs and ownership incentives on the financial case for switching to a used EV.
As more EVs reach second and third owners, charging demand is likely to grow in residential streets, apartment developments and neighbourhoods where private parking is limited. Older, shorter-range vehicles may also require more frequent top-ups.
Versinetic recommends accelerating municipal and on-street charging deployments, prioritising areas without off-street parking and ensuring local authorities have the resources to deliver projects effectively. Operators should assess local vehicle ownership, parking patterns and demand rather than relying on a ‘one-size-fits-all’ rollout.
Continued grant support for renters, flat residents and households without driveways is also important, with second-hand buyers able to access appropriate support regardless of whether they have previously owned an EV.
The used-EV market contains several generations of charging technology. Early Nissan Leafs use Type 1 AC and CHAdeMO DC connections, while newer European vehicles predominantly use Type 2 and CCS2. Some older models also lack support for newer communication standards, including ISO 15118.
Versinetic is urging the Government to ensure that publicly funded charging schemes consider the needs of older EVs, with compatibility reflected in procurement guidance and local infrastructure planning. This could include encouraging flexible, untethered AC chargers and retaining appropriate CHAdeMO provision where demand justifies it.
Hardware designers and network operators should assess the vehicle mix at each location, rather than assuming every driver owns a modern CCS-equipped EV. This would help prevent older, lower-cost electric cars from being excluded as charging networks modernise.
Battery state of health (SoH) provides an indication of remaining capacity and can influence usable range and charging performance. However, battery ageing varies significantly, so older EVs should not automatically be assumed to have poor battery health.
Greater transparency in the second-hand market would help buyers understand a vehicle’s condition and make more informed decisions about range and charging requirements. Government support for consistent battery-health reporting and recognised diagnostic standards could help build consumer confidence and make it easier to compare used EVs.
Versinetic’s analysis highlights a 2017 Renault Zoe with its original 22kWh battery pack that reportedly retained approximately 97% of its capacity after nine years and more than 80,000 miles, demonstrating why measured condition is more useful than age alone. Charging infrastructure should also accommodate vehicles with different battery conditions and charging limits safely and reliably.
Demand for affordable charging equipment is likely to grow alongside the used-EV market, but older hardware may lack the functionality, software support or compliance required for a new installation.
A clearer framework for the reuse and refurbishment of charge points would help prevent functional equipment from being unnecessarily discarded. The Government could support this through guidance on regulatory compliance and policies that embody repairability, ongoing software support and upgradeable designs.
Installers and buyers should check applicable smart-charging regulations, electrical safety requirements and manufacturer support before commissioning used equipment. This would help create a more circular charging market that reduces waste and costs without compromising safety or security.
Growing EV ownership will place new demands on local electricity networks, particularly in densely populated residential areas. Installing more charge points alone will not be enough if infrastructure cannot manage demand efficiently.
Versinetic recommends greater investment in smart load balancing, flexible energy management and systems capable of serving mixed generations of vehicles. It also sees simpler, more efficient charger design as part of reducing the cost and complexity of expanding infrastructure.
Dunstan Power, managing director at Versinetic, commented: “Seeing the second-hand EV market take off is a huge win for adoption, but it’s throwing a bright spotlight on our infrastructure bottlenecks. The next wave of drivers doesn’t look like the first. Many can’t simply plug in at home overnight because they don’t have a driveway or garage. Add older vehicle compatibility and the upfront cost of charging equipment, and buying a used EV can feel harder than it should.
“The Autumn Budget is an opportunity to make sure charging policy does not undermine the affordability of a used EV. Reducing the VAT disparity, supporting local infrastructure and maintaining access to grants would help more households make the switch. The infrastructure must adapt to the people now buying EVs, not just the people who bought them first.”
