Part 2: Electric Vehicles: Charging Chapter 2: Policy background Section 10: Public charging and refuelling points: access, standards, and connection
Section 10 provides a power for the Secretary of State to make regulations which address a current problem with the diversity of different means of accessing public charging point services. Regulations could require operators to provide an appropriate uniform method of accessing public charging points and refuelling points. Although recent EU legislation now mandates that access to charge points must be offered without membership, there remain many differing methods of access. For example, at the moment consumers may be required to access a charging point via SMS, or text or smart phone application. This Section will enable a common method of payment or access to be mandated in regulations. In addition, the Section enables regulations which could address any lack of interoperability between public charging point connectors or sockets. This would ensure that an electric vehicle could charge at any public charging (or refuelling) point. The Section also enables regulations to be made that would enable the Secretary of State to set availability, maintenance and performance standards for public charging infrastructure. This would help to increase the number and reliability of charging or refuelling points available for use by the public at any given time.