Home EV charge points must be ‘smart’ by July 2019

EV charge points funded by the government must use ‘smart’ technology from July 2019, the Department for Transport confirmed today (December 14).

This means charge points must be able to be remotely accessed, and capable of receiving, interpreting and reacting to a signal.

Smart charging can also reduce high peaks of electricity demands, minimising the cost of electric vehicles to the electricity system — which the government says keeps costs down for consumers by encouraging off-peak charging.

The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme was launched in 2014 and has delivered over 60,000 grants for domestic charge points to date.

The government also confirmed they will be maintaining the current level of up to £500 per installation until March 2020 or until 30,000 more installations have been supported.

 

Automotive Minister Richard Harrington said the measures will make it easier for consumers to move towards electric vehicles.

‘Through our modern Industrial Strategy and Automotive Sector Deal, we are investing to ensure the UK is the leading destination for the innovation and manufacture of electric vehicle batteries and technologies to help all parts of the UK reap the economic benefits of these innovations,’ he added.

The smart charge point pledge was originally made as part of the Government’s Road to Zero strategy, built around the target for all new cars and vans to be effectively zero emission by 2040.

Jesse Norman, Roads Minister, said: ‘The government wants the UK to be the best place in the world to build and own an electric vehicle, and through leadership and innovation it is paving the way to a zero-emission future.’

‘We have already supported the installation of over 100,000 home charge points. Now the measures announced today will give more people the opportunity to make the move to electric.’