The UK Government has announced new legislation to streamline and expedite the process of charging electric vehicles (EVs), promising a more seamless and efficient experience for millions of drivers.
The key highlights of these regulations encompass several pivotal aspects:
Enhanced transparency and accessibility
Drivers are set to gain access to clear, easy-to-compare pricing information, streamlined payment methods, and more dependable charge points.
Benefits for EV drivers
Millions of EV drivers stand to benefit from the improved public charging infrastructure facilitated by these new laws. They’ll experience greater transparency in pricing across charge points, ensuring a more seamless comparison of costs.
Moreover, the majority of new public charging points will feature contactless payment options, increasing convenience for users.
Data accessibility for seamless navigation
Under these regulations, providers are mandated to open up their data, enabling drivers to locate suitable charging points that meet their specific needs. This unlocked data will be accessible through apps, online maps, and in-vehicle software, streamlining the process of locating charge points, assessing their charging speeds, and verifying their availability for use.
Jesse Norman, the Technology and Decarbonisation Minister, expressed optimism about the long-term impact of these regulations.
“Over time, these new regulations will improve EV charging for millions of drivers, helping them find the charging points 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.”
Upon the enforcement of these regulations, drivers will also have access to round-the-clock helplines to address any issues encountered while using public road charging facilities. Charge point operators will also need to make charge point data openly available, ensuring greater accessibility to available chargers.
These regulations build on the Government’s recent efforts to speed up the installation of charge points through the Plan for Drivers. Measures include streamlining the grid connections process for installation and extending charge point grants for schools.
Applications for the first round of the £381 million Local EV Infrastructure fund are now also open, aimed at delivering tens of thousands of additional charge points. This move seeks to transform the accessibility of charging for drivers without off-street parking.
Additionally, the On-Street Residential Charge point Scheme (ORCS) is open to all UK local authorities.
