- new laws passed to make charging an electric vehicle easier,
quicker and more reliable
- drivers will have access transparent, easy-to-compare pricing
information, simpler payment methods and more reliable
chargepoints
- follows the commitments in the government’s Plan for Drivers
to put drivers back in the driving seat and boost chargepoint
infrastructure ahead of the 2035 zero emission vehicle goal
Millions of electric vehicle (EV) drivers will benefit from easier
and more reliable public charging thanks to new laws approved by
MPs last night (24
October 2023).
New regulations will ensure that prices across chargepoints are
transparent and easy to compare and that a large proportion of
new public chargepoints have contactless payment options.
Providers will also be required to open up their data, so drivers
can easily find an available chargepoint that meets their needs.
It will open up data for apps, online maps and in-vehicle
software, making it easier for drivers to locate chargepoints,
check their charging speeds and determine whether they are
working and available for use.
These measures come as the country reaches record levels of
public charging infrastructure, with numbers growing 42% year on
year.
Technology and Decarbonisation Minister, , said:
Over time, these new regulations will improve EV charging for millions of drivers,
helping them find the chargepoints they want, providing price
transparency so that they can compare the cost of different
charging options, and updating payment methods.
They will make the switch to electric easier than ever for
drivers, support the economy and help the UK reach its 2035 goals.
Once the regulations come into force, drivers will also be able
to contact free 24/7 helplines for any issues accessing charging
on public roads. Chargepoint operators will also have to open up
chargepoint data, making it easier to find available chargers.
James Court, CEO,
Electric Vehicle Association England, said:
Better reliability, clearer pricing, easier payments, plus the
potentially game-changing opportunities of open data are all a
major step forward for EV
drivers and should make the UK one of the best places to charge in
the world.
As the rollout of charging infrastructure gathers momentum, these
regulations will ensure quality and help put consumers needs at
the heart of this transition.
These regulations follow the government’s recent announcement of
a range of measures to speed
up the installation of chargepoints through the Plan for Drivers. This
includes reviewing the grid connections process for installation
and extending chargepoint grants for schools.
The government also continues to support the rollout of charging
infrastructure in local areas. Applications are currently open to
local authorities in the first round of the £381 million Local EV Infrastructure fund, which will
deliver tens of thousands more chargepoints and transform the
availability of charging for drivers without off-street parking.
In addition, the On-Street Residential
Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) is open to all UK local authorities.
The government recently set out its world-leading path to
reaching zero emission vehicles by 2035, which will require
80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain to be
zero emission by 2030. Today’s regulations will help support
drivers as more and more switch to electric.
Today the government has also published its response to the
Future of Transport Zero
Emission Vehicles consultation, confirming its intention to
introduce laws to require local transport authorities to produce
local charging strategies if they have not done so as part of
local transport plans. This will ensure that every part of the
country has a plan for EV
charging infrastructure.
