Legislation to ensure electric vehicle charging points have greater reliability, easier payment methods and open data, has been welcomed by South Shropshire MP, Philip Dunne.

The Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 will ensure all chargers over 8kW will have to accept contactless payments within a year, meaning drivers no longer will have to download different apps for each charging company.

Charge Point Operators will also have an average reliability requirement for rapid charge of 99% each calendar year. They will also have to provide a staffed telephone helpline, available free of charge 24 hours per day, so drivers can seek assistance if required.

The regulations also include a requirement for open data by 2025, which will mean Charge Point Operators will have to provide real time information, updated every 30 seconds, on their status pf charge points – which will allow drivers to know whether charge points are available, charging, or reserved.  This data will be free and open, helping to deliver vast improvement to mapping tools.

Prices for charging will also have to be made clear to drivers, with the total price for charging an electric vehicle clearly displayed in pence per kilowatt hour either on the charge point or through a separate device.

In welcoming this latest improvement in EV charging technology by the government, Mr Dunne said:

“This statutory instrument doesn’t receive the headlines of major legislation, but it actually represents a big step forward for the Electric Vehicle charging network in this country, and is extremely welcome.

“As more and more people take up electric vehicles, ease and transparency in charging will be ever more important. These changes, particularly open data, will give drivers greater clarity on the charging network so they can better plan journeys.”

The Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 are secondary legislation to the Automated and Electric vehicles Act 2018, so should come into effect imminently once considered by the House of Commons.