SMMT calls for regulated EV charge point mandate

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has called for improved regulations to ‘level up’ the electric car charging network for drivers. The trade body has formulated a seven-point plan aimed at making sure every driver in Britain is able to benefit from the country’s charging infrastructure. Proposals include developing a nationally co-ordinated but locally delivered infrastructure scheme, increased investment into public charging, future-proofing the network and embedding “customer centricity”. The SMMT says the plan has been designed to “drive collaboration between government, industry and all other stakeholders”, and has also called for an independent regulator to be introduced. A proposed regulatory body named the Office of Charging, or ‘Ofcharge’, would watch over important aspects of the market, such as charging prices, and would enforce minimum standards. It would also help to address the regional divide in charge point availability. The SMMT says the ratio of electric cars to standard public chargers at the end of 2020 stood at 1:37 in the north of the country, compared with 1:26 in the south. That gap widened in 2021, according to the SMMT, with the car-to-charger ratio at 1:52 in the north and 1:30 in the south. SMMT CEO Mike Hawes said: “The automotive industry is up for the challenge of a zero-emission new car and van market by 2035. Delivering this ambition – an ambition that would put the UK ahead of every major market in the world – needs more than automotive investment. “It needs the commensurate commitment of all other stakeholders, especially the charging industry as surveys show that range anxiety has been replaced by charging anxiety.” The SMMT believes its plan would support the move to electric vehicles as the UK prepares for a ban of new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030. If action is taken, the SMMT claims the UK could have around 9.3 million plug-in vehicles on the road by 2030 as the country moves towards net zero. “Our plan puts the consumer at the heart of this transition, assuring them of the best possible experience backed by an independent regulator,” said Hawes. “With clear, equivalent targets and support for operators and local authorities that match consumer needs, government can ensure the UK has a charge point network that makes electric mobility a reality for all, cutting emissions, driving growth and supporting consumers across the UK.” Connected Kerb welcomed the calls for transition, suggesting regional disparities in car charger distribution are a major challenge the industry must overcome. “Regional disparities in public electric vehicle charging rollouts must not prevent drivers from realising the huge benefits of driving electric. Only by overcoming these disparities can we achieve a fair and equal transition to cleaner transport. We welcome the SMMT’s call for new standards that would guarantee social equity in provision of charge points and ensure no one is left behind in the UK’s electric vehicle transition,” Chris Pateman-Jones, Connected Kerb CEO. “Councils and developers can often be put off installing electric vehicle charge points due to the perceived high up-front costs of installation and a lack of transparency over network performance and driver tariffs. Any new regulator should seek to cut through this confusion and encourage the use of large scale, long term contracts that measure operator performance, not only against economic, but also social and environmental targets," Jones said. "For the UK to deliver a full societal transition to EV, access to convenient, reliable and affordable charging infrastructure must be removed as a barrier to adoption, no matter where in the UK you happen to live.”

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SMMT calls for regulated EV charge point mandate

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has proposed a seven-point plan and a regulatory body

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SMMT calls for regulated EV charge point mandate

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has proposed a seven-point plan and a regulatory body

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