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New charter aimed at making EV charging a better experience
and accelerate adoption
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Charter aims to raise standards and safety, improve access
and reliability, and lower consumer costs
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FairCharge writes to new Secretary of State for Energy
Security and Net Zero to urge her to support campaign
Electric vehicle and renewable energy campaign group FairCharge,
in partnership with the RAC, have created the UK’s first charter for
electric vehicle (EV) public charging with the aim of
improving the reliability, transparency, accessibility, and
usability of the UK’s rapidly growing charging network.
Supported by Robert Llewellyn’s Fully Charged Show, trade body
Recharge UK, and EV disability champion ChargeSafe, the charter
calls for the implementation of world-class standards across the
UK EV charging sector. FairCharge and the RAC are therefore
calling for it to become a minimum set of standards for
Government, local authorities, landowners and charge point
operators.
Recommendations include a 99% charger reliability guarantee,
clear information for consumers on working and non-working
chargers along with a 48-hour repair target. Signs on major roads
and motorways should show locations of the fastest chargers and
charge point operators (CPOs) should ensure the price per kWh is
always clearly displayed.
The charter also calls for chargers to be located in safe,
well-lit areas, and be accessible to all drivers, regardless of
physical abilities. Parking operators and local councils should
make their EV parking terms and conditions clear and unambiguous
and not allow parking while charging to become a revenue stream.
Payment should be faff-free using contactless bank and debit
cards without needing to download apps, with digital receipts
showing any VAT element easily available.
FairCharge founder Quentin Willson said: “I’ve this week written
to the new energy secretary urging her to support this campaign
and help boost the UK’s energy independence and security. We’ve
produced this charter after talking to hundreds of EV drivers and
it represents their wish list for building a world-class public
charging network. Government, operators, councils, and local
authorities should reflect on what these pioneering drivers of
EVs have told us. Only by carefully listening to those who have
already driven electric cars for years will this country get the
charging infrastructure and EV policies to be fit for the
future.”
RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: “As the market for electric cars
really starts to open up in the UK, it’s vital we have enough
public chargers in enough locations to make charging as
straightforward as possible.
“But quality is as important as quantity: drivers will quickly
become frustrated if they discover chargers that aren’t working,
or they can’t clearly see how much they’re going to pay before
they plug in. And for those with specific accessibility needs,
having chargers that meet the new British Standard is absolutely
vital.
“This charter – a first for the UK – addresses all these issues
and more which is why we’re calling on the whole sector to get
behind it and help deliver an electric car charging experience
that puts drivers first.”
The charter follows recent calls by Recharge UK [the EV arm of
the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA)],
ChargeSafe and FairCharge for all public EV charging sites to
have accessible charging mandated.
A voluntary British Standard introduced last year has helped
ensure that charging an EV is accessible for all users, including
disabled people. PAS 1899:2022 gives
designers, procurers, and installers essential specifications on
how to provide accessible public charge points for electric
vehicles.
FairCharge and the RAC also continue to campaign for a reduction
in VAT on public charging from 20% to 5% and the charter includes
a recommendation to the Treasury to reduce the cost to consumers
without driveways who rely on public devices – a change that
would have a negligible impact on the Government’s finances.
These drivers are being unfairly penalised because of an archaic
tax policy that is no longer fit for purpose.
The charter can be viewed on and downloaded from both the
RAC and FairCharge websites.
