Real Estate Blog: Fully Charged? A preview of the draft Public Charge Point Regulations 2023

Draft regulations regarding Electric Vehicle Charging Points have been published and are currently under consideration for approval by Parliament. Here's an 'at a glance' summary:

The draft "Public Charge Point Regulations 2023" are aimed at improving the customer experience of using public EV charging points. They are not yet in force, and the timeline for implementing the proposals is still to be finalised.

Enhanced Transparency

Transparency is a key focus of the Regulations, ensuring that consumers have access to clear, reliable information. The total cost per charging session in pence/kw/h must be displayed on public charge points or through another device which does not require a contract sign up.

Reliability and Consumer Focus

EV charging needs to become more convenient and cost-effective for everyone to increase adoption. 99% reliability requirements and open access data on reliability and availability are also to be introduced. 24/7 Helplines will be a legal requirement.

Improved Payment Options

Certain types of EV chargers will be required to have a contactless payment option. A further proposal in the Regulations is a requirement for all public EV chargers to allow for 3rd party roaming providers to be able to take payments across a variety of EV charging points.

Compliance

The Regulations will encourage innovation in the EV charging sector, backed up by civil penalties for non-compliance to ensure the standards are met. At present, fines of up to £10,000 per EV charging point for breaches of certain parts of the Regulations, fines of up to £10,000 per network for a breach of the open data requirements and fines of up to £250,000 for obstruction of enforcement authorities are proposed.

Implementation

Keep an eye on these draft Regulations as they help shape the future of EV charging. There may be some changes to the proposals as they are debated in Parliament, and the Regulations (if/when enacted) will include specific timescales for implementation.The draft Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 look to be a positive step forward in standardising public EV Charging points with driver experience in mind, and providing ease of use during the transition from fossil fuel to electric powered vehicles. The open data, ease of payment and standardised price-display requirements should give consumers a better EV Charging experience than is currently often the case. The Regulations will not apply to all EV Charging Points and further steps are required to progress in this area.

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If you have any queries in relation to this article please contact Zac Clayton in our Real Estate team.