UK plans to make EVs chargepoints mandatory for new homes by 2050

The UK Government is considering introducing legislation that would require the installation of chargepoints for electric vehicles in all the new homes in England by 2050.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has launched a public consultation on changing building regulations.

Through this move, the government aims to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases and also support the adoption of EVs in the country.

If the legislation is introduced, the UK will become the first country in the world to introduce mandatory chargepoints in new homes.

It will also boost the government’s £1.5bn ‘Road to Zero Strategy’, which requires all new cars and vans to be effectively zero-emission by 2040.

In addition, the government stated that all newly installed faster and higher-powered chargepoints should be able to accept debit or credit card payment by the first calendar quarter of 2020.

UK Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “With record levels of ultra-low emission vehicles on our roads, it is clear there is an appetite for cleaner, greener transport.

“Home charging provides the most convenient and low-cost option for consumers, you can simply plug your car in to charge overnight as you would a mobile phone.

To ensure that existing homes are electric vehicle ready, the government is offering up to £500 discount on the costs of installing a chargepoint at home.

So far, the scheme has supported the installation of nearly 100,000 domestic chargepoints. In addition, the government recently announced that it is consulting on requirements that all new private chargepoints use ‘smart’ technology.

Commenting on the UK Government’s decision, Ingenious Infrastructure managing director Sebastian Speight said: “There is a justifiable concern about the drag on the adoption of electric vehicles in the UK due to the limits on the speed of rolling out the associated charging infrastructure.

“There are currently a number of market participants developing and implementing strategies for rolling out charging infrastructure but there is also a reasonable degree of uncertainty about the future patterns of consumer behaviour, which creates a level of risk in these business models which has a closer fit with strategic or venture capital rather than more traditional infrastructure capital.

“These uncertainties are around the technology type (AC versus DC), charging location and fear of stranded assets and convergence of operating systems. A closer involvement from public stakeholders should enable greater visibility on these risks and increase the availability of private capital.”

Last month, the UK Government has recommended the installation of smart electric chargepoints as part of its net-zero emissions target.