Moving one step closer to electrifying the way we travel in the UK, England is set to become to first country to legally require all new buildings to include an EV Charger. If pending UK legislation becomes law, all newly built homes (including office buildings) will need to provide electric vehicle (EV) charging points for every 5 parking spaces.
With the new law expected to come into action in 2022, it will fasten the rate of installations across the UK. Where 500 charging points are currently installed per month, this figure will rise to 700.
The new law is set to be a world’s first, and to excel the UK’s movement towards an all e-mobility UK, along with their ban on new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030.
With this news reported to last year by the Department for Transport Minister Rachel Maclean, other key proposals include:
- Home and workplace EV chargers must be capable of ‘smart’ charging (see below);
- Existing non-residential buildings, such as offices, to include requirements for electric vehicle chargepoints.
What is smart EV charging and why is it important?
- Choose the time of day when their vehicle charges.
- Adjust the rate of charge to help reduce and manage the impact of EVs on the National Grid.
- EV drivers will be able to set their charging preferences to suit their needs and lifestyle. This can all be done remotely through an app, thus meaning they will not have to manually connect and disconnect their car.
- EV drivers are guaranteed a more balanced supply and demand ratio. Helping EV owners move away from taking electricity off the grid during peak hours (5pm-7pm).
- Ultimately create a more sustainable energy system based on renewable energy sources.
What other benefits will come from the UK’s latest electric vehicle legislation?
- The proposal will support the transition from petrol cars to electric by helping eliminate range anxiety, i.e., the fear that an EV will lose power before reaching its destination.
- Rapidly boosting the number of chargepoints across England, the new law will help create an infrastructure ahead of the UK’s ban on new fossil-fuel vehicles.
- The proposal is another key element of the UK’s agenda to decarbonise its private and public transport systems. Assisting the nation in reaching its net zero target by 2050.
- Recharging an EV is much cheaper at home than at a public charging station or at the workplace.
- It will become more accessible and equitable for those on low- to -middle-incomes to charge their EVs at home.
Is the UK taking the right steps forward?
The upcoming UK legislation will undoubtedly aid and encourage the growing uptake of EVs within England. Key features of the legislation will ensure that all new homes and offices will have dedicated parking with EV chargepoints. As a result, it will make it easier, cheaper and more convenient for EV drivers to go about their lives with the use of an electric car.
We just need to look at recent figures of EV sales to see that the future of our transport is electric. In 2021 alone, there were more than 165,000 new passenger plug-in cars registered in the UK!
Lastly, the UK is certainly putting one step forward in the right direction with its latest legislation. Effectively, ensuring fuel and diesel vehicle sales are a thing of the past.
