Compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights Part 2: Electric vehicles: Charging Public charging and refuelling points: access, standards and connection
Section 10 confers power on the Secretary of State to make regulations which require operators of publicly accessible charge points and hydrogen refuelling stations and networks to ensure consumers can use them without the need to utilise many different methods of access, such as smart phone, SMS text, subscription and card payment ("access").
	Moreover, there is a power to: specify minimum standards of design and functionality to secure physical interoperability between electric and hydrogen vehicles and charge points ("connection"); and set availability, maintenance and performance standards for public charging which would help increase the number of charge points available for use to the public at any given time.
	The access and standard provisions could interfere with current network access practice and affect business goodwill as currently operators can choose how to permit access to the services of their own charge points and which charge points that they want to maintain and operate. The connection provisions would affect the sale and installation of certain types of infrastructure that did not meet those standards and commercial decisions on choice of infrastructure.
	It is necessary to ensure that all publicly accessible charge points are accessed by the widest section of the population. Recent EU legislation1 has mandated ad hoc access to public charge points and introduced some interoperability requirements for connections by mandating, as a minimum, specific connectors of socket outlets for public charge points. The Act’s provisions will build on that simple ad hoc access by potentially mandating the most suitable type of access, which benefits the consumer. There are currently several connectors serving several different vehicle types. This has potential to create a disjointed national charge point network. Having a significant number of public charge points out of action greatly impacts on the user charging experience, inconveniencing and frustrating electric vehicle ("EV") drivers. A fully interoperable, readily available national network where all Ultra Low Emissions Vehicles ("ULEV") can access charge points irrespective of make or operator, would improve network efficiency and boost consumer confidence.
	Accordingly, any interference with A1P1 rights would be a proportionate means of achieving these aims.