New Homes & Offices In England Will Require EV Chargers Under New Legislation
The British government will introduce legislation later this year that will require all newly built homes and offices to feature EV chargers in England.
EV CHARGERS IN ALL-NEW HOMES & OFFICES
The announcement was made by MP Rachel MacLean, undersecretary at the Department of Transport.
As more and more vehicle owners switch to electric vehicles, there has been huge concern around the number of EV chargers currently available for use.
Currently, the UK has around 25,600 public charging points in more than 16,000 locations but ten times that amount is required by 2030 when the sale of new petrol and diesel cars ends, according to a report released earlier this year by the Competition and Markets Authority.
The legislation will mandate that the new chargers are “smart” devices enabling owners to charge their vehicles at off-peak times to save money and avoid overloading the electricity grid. By default, chargers will be set to send power to the cars during the night, when demand is low.
This will only apply to England. Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland are expected to announce their own legislation in time.
EV CHARGING RULES AT A GLANCE
When are EV chargers expected to become mandatory on new homes and offices?
The announcement by MP Rachel MacLean said the government intends to “Lay legislation later this year” meaning that measures are expected to come into effect from 2022.
Will the legislation include older homes?
The legislation only states new homes and offices, although with the switch to electric becoming more popular daily, installing an electric charger would be a wise investment.
What are the costs of installing an electric charger?
Costs vary but rough costings for an electric charger installation is around £800, though those making the switch are eligible for a £350 government grant to be put towards the cost of installation.
You can read more about the costs in our how to charge an electric car blog.
What about those who live in apartments or without off-street parking?
New apartments will, presumably, fall into the “new builds” category, so if there are parking facilities, expect the installation of chargers.
Those without off-street parking will still have to use public chargers or, if they drive there, those at their workplaces.
We found that it is possible to own an electric car without home charging availability, using only public rapid chargers, though it is less convenient, and costs are higher.
