All new-builds to include EV chargepoints

The government has confirmed it will legislate to require all new-build homes and offices with parking spaces to have electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints.

As flagged in the transport decarbonisation plan earlier this year, the government is also planning to consult on legislation to ensure all private EV charging points can operate as smart devices.

The government ran a consultation on mandating EV chargepoints two years ago but has yet to officially respond.

However, Rachel Maclean, the transport minister, told Parliament yesterday (9 September): “We will publish our consultation response on requiring all new residential and non-residential buildings to have a chargepoint and we intend to lay legislation later this year.

“We also confirmed our intention to mandate that home and workplace electric vehicle chargers must be capable of smart charging.”

If legislation is passed it would make the UK the first country to mandate chargepoints in all new homes.

The news was welcomed by Randolph Brazier, director of innovation and electricity systems at the Energy Networks Association. However, he insisted that regulation must keep pace, saying: “Being able to charge your electric vehicle at home or work will be a game changer in the shift to net zero transportation.

“To deliver the underlying infrastructure to support this ambition, electricity networks must be able to make early investments in infrastructure as well as use new and innovative smart grid technologies.”

Yesterday also saw the Department for Transport launch a new app, EV8 Switch, which calculates how much money UK drivers could save by switching to an EV, along with details on the carbon dioxide savings and air quality improvements they could achieve.

Drivers can also see which electric vehicles would be the most suitable for them, see how close their nearest chargepoints are and which journeys can be completed without the need to top-up en-route.