Skip advert
Advertisement

EV chargepoints face regulatory crackdown

Consultation will begin this year investigating how public chargepoints should be regulated, particularly regarding pricing and data

Chargers

The Government is to investigate how much drivers of electric cars pay to charge their vehicles at public chargepoints. How chargepoint providers use customer data will also be scrutinised. 

The investigation will come by way of a consultation announced by the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, who said that confidence in chargepoints was “vital” as the UK moves towards an electrified future. 

No specific mention was made about chargepoint reliability, though, a key issue for drivers responding to Auto Express’s inaugural public chargepoint survey earlier this year. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Shapps told an online conference: “As an EV driver myself, I know that it’s vital that EV drivers can have confidence in the public charging network. That’s why we’re going to consult on regulating to improve the driver experience of use of electric vehicle chargepoints to make it as easy and hassle-free as it can possibly be.”

Natasha Robinson, joint head of OLEV (Office for Low Emission Vehicles), expanded on Shapps’ announcement, explaining that the Government wants to “regulate at the right level”, but doesn’t wish to “undermine a nascent market, and undermine innovation”.

“We are looking at later this year doing a quite big consultation looking at bringing in place some of the first regulations around chargepoints,” she continued. “That will particularly look at things around pricing... to make that more transparent for consumers.”

Robinson added that the consultation would look at “really crucial issues around data and making that more available”.

Regulation has slowly started to be introduced to the chargepoint industry, with new chargers having to come with contactless payment options since spring this year, and the Department for Transport previously saying it is “prepared to intervene to ensure a good deal for consumers by using powers in the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act”.

Got an electric car? Check out the best chargepoint providers here...

Skip advert
Advertisement

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Chinese cars can’t match their European rivals when it comes to engineering
Opinion - Shanghai Auto Show

Chinese cars can’t match their European rivals when it comes to engineering

This new brand of cars might have battery tech on their side, but European buyers want much more than that
Opinion
25 Apr 2025
New electric car MoT tests could be coming to the UK
Tesla Model X on two-post inspection ramp

New electric car MoT tests could be coming to the UK

New technology and driver assistance systems require changes to annual testing, says EC
News
25 Apr 2025
Buying a modern used car for under £10k is almost impossible
Opinion - £10k used cars

Buying a modern used car for under £10k is almost impossible

Phil McNamara discovers that it’s harder than ever to find a good-value car at the affordable end of the market
Opinion
24 Apr 2025