MPs have given their approval to new rules that would provide drivers of electric vehicles (EVs) with clear, easy-to-compare price information, more dependable charging stations, and easier payment options.
The Department for Transport (DfT) hopes that by requiring charge point operators to make their data publicly available, drivers will find it easier to locate charge points, verify their charging speeds, and ascertain whether they are operational and accessible via in-car software, online maps, and third-party apps.
The new rules were implemented in response to the UK surpassing 50,000 public charging stations. MFG EV Power placed the 50,000th charging unit at a Weston-super-Mare service station.
According to Zapmap’s quarterly statistics, the number of slow chargers has climbed by about 68% and the number of ultra-rapid charge points has increased by 68% in the UK from September 2022
Predictably, at the present rate of installation, Zapmap estimates that by August 2025, the UK will have 100,000 charging devices.
“Over time, these new regulations will improve EV charging for millions of drivers, helping them find the charge points they want, providing price transparency so that they can compare the cost of different charging options, and updating payment methods,” stated Jesse Norman, minister of technology and decarbonisation.
“They will support the economy, make the transition to electric vehicles easier than ever for drivers, and assist the UK in achieving its 2035 goals.”
In addition, drivers will have access to free 24/7 helplines for any problems they may have accessing charging on public roads once the regulations go into effect.
“Better reliability, clearer pricing, easier payments, plus the potentially game-changing opportunities of open data are all major steps forward for EV drivers and should make the UK one of the best places to charge in the world,” stated James Court, CEO of the Electric Vehicle Association England.
“These regulations will help put consumers’ needs at the centre of this transition and ensure quality as the rollout of charging infrastructure gathers momentum.”