New laws on electric vehicle charging points are being introduced from today (Dec 30). The rules relate to cybersecurity and tamper-protection of home charging devices.
The new Schedule 1: Security compliance regulations follow on from the Electric Vehicles (Small Charge Points) Regulations, which came into force in June 2022. These regulations aim to ensure that charging points give adequate protection to the electricity system and the personal data of the owner.
From today, anyone wishing to install an non-compliant EV charger will have to seek prior approval from the Office for Product Safety and Standards. Charge points will have to have a unique password and the ability to monitor various aspects of how they are being used, the Express reports.
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Smart functionality is required, which will mean a charge point is able to send and receive information and is able to respond to signals to increase the rate or time at which electricity flows. There must also be a measuring system to calculate how much electricity is imported or exported and how long charging lasts, with information visible to the owner.
It comes after new laws introduced in June stipulated that all home and workplace chargers should have smart charging capability, which allows drivers to select when they charge their car to make sure it has enough energy for when they need it. This is particularly useful to those with an EV-friendly home tariff, where people can save money by not using electricity at certain times.
For motorists worried about whether their charging point meets the new rules, one of the UK's biggest EV charger providers, Ohme, has reassured motorists, saying chargers were already very secure and most will meet the latest requirements. Ohme CEO David Watson said: "Whether you’re an electric vehicle driver looking to buy a new smart charger, an electrical retailer offering them for sale or an installer, from the end of this year all new EV chargers are legally-bound to meet these regulations.
"For total peace of mind, drivers, retailers and installers should ensure that they’re buying a product that meets the latest regulations and ask to see the Statement of Compliance for the charger to confirm that."
Ohme's smart chargers allow users to set their vehicle to charge at times when the price of electricity drops below a certain point, allowing them to save money. Drivers are also given the option to charge their car when electricity generated from renewable sources is at its highest in the grid.
Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular as the technology for charging them improves. According to recent data from Zap-Map, a third of electric vehicle owners also own a petrol car, but the electric one is favoured for all types of journey.
The survey found that 71 percent of electric vehicle owners used it for commuting and 67 percent used their electric car on journeys over 100 miles.
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