UK Government Publish EV Charger Regulations

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The UK government has issued new regulations that will apply to operators of publicly accessible electric vehicle (EV) chargers across the entire country. These regulations aim to ensure a 99% reliability rate for rapid charger networks. In a supporting memorandum, the Department for Transport explained that the regulations are intended to address barriers hindering the adoption of EVs. It emphasized that while the industry is making improvements, the progress is not happening quickly enough to keep up with the increasing popularity of EVs.

The memorandum identified four key areas that require significant improvement to prevent an uneven playing field: payment, pricing, data, and reliability. It highlighted the need for better solutions in these areas to avoid a situation where individuals with driveways can easily and reliably charge their EVs at home, while those without driveways struggle to find functional and user-friendly charging points.

Under the newly introduced regulations, operators will have a year to ensure that all chargers with a power capacity of 8kW or higher offer contactless payment options. Within two years of the regulations taking effect, payment roaming will be mandatory. This will enable drivers to use a single app or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) card across multiple charge point networks. Charge point operators will also be required to connect to at least one third-party roaming provider.

The regulations will impose a reliability standard of 99% on each charge point operator's network of rapid charge points, measured as an average over a year. Additionally, operators must provide a free-to-use staffed telephone helpline that operates 24/7 for all public charge points. This helpline will support consumers who encounter difficulties while trying to charge their EVs.

The memorandum emphasised that these regulations specifically target rapid charge points due to their crucial role in facilitating long-distance journeys and supporting commercial drivers. The government plans to review the possibility of extending the same reliability requirements to slower charge points two years after the legislation is implemented.

Operators will also be obligated to provide information to consumers, allowing them to check the availability and functionality of charge points before arriving. Furthermore, all public charge points must adopt pence per kilowatt hour (p/kWh) as the standard pricing metric. This will enable consumers to easily compare prices when using different charge points.

In response to the news, Simon Williams, the RAC's electric vehicles spokesman, expressed satisfaction with the government's recognition of the need to improve the charging experience for drivers. He commended the government's efforts to address these concerns and highlighted the importance of instilling confidence in EVs, particularly as the deadline for ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars approaches in 2030. Williams praised the introduction of a single app for charging and suggested that clear pricing information should be displayed prominently on digital signage, similar to the way fuel prices are displayed, to facilitate price comparisons for EV drivers.

Gill Nowell, head of EV communications for ElectriX, part of LV General Insurance, regarded the regulations as a significant step forward for public charging in the UK. Nowell acknowledged the progress made by charge point operators in deploying chargers rapidly. However, she emphasised the importance of ensuring the reliability of the public charging network and the ease of use of chargers, including contactless payment options, transparent operational data, and pricing visibility. She also mentioned that while the number of rapid chargers has increased by 42% annually, it is crucial to maintain the pace of rollout to achieve the target of 300,000 to 700,000 public chargers by 2030 and stay on track for the UK's electric vehicle revolution.

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