Calls for drivers to face major rules overhaul to tackle ‘biggest barrier’ in UK motoring
Drivers could be set for the largest electric car charging overhaul in years under new calls from leading motoring experts.
Experts are demanding a national electric car charging overhaul to tackle the “biggest barrier to EV adoption” in the UK.
The Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) has called for rule changes and the introduction of a national kerbside charging strategy with more on-street bays urgently needed.
They warned the current system of relying on local authorities to install charging bays was “ineffective” and urged politicians to consider a “unified national programme”.
The new rules would also include new chargepoint regulations to radically update rules around public bays.
It’s one of a series of measures outlined by the AFP in their latest 2024 Tax and Regulation Manifesto.
The report read: “A lack of kerbside charging is currently the biggest barrier to EV adoption in the UK, we believe, so a national programme is needed to encourage installation of chargers for on-street parking.
“The current scheme relies on local authorities to part-fund, meaning that provision is extremely patchy and that employers need to lobby individual councils for charging provision, something that is often proving ineffective.
“There needs to be a unified national programme in place that solves these problems, otherwise many drivers will find it very challenging to adopt an EV.”
The AFP’s report has also called for the Government to assist in the development of more “community charging projects”.
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This will help support drivers who do not have easy access to home charging such as those who live in flats.
Finally, the AFP suggested a new chargepoint regulator was vital and even discussed the possibility of an EV price cap.
They warned a regulator would make sure there is a certain “quality standard” for charge points across the UK.
“Quality, quantity, standards and accessibility” would be at the forefront of the new regulators' remit to ensure road users have similar experiences no matter where they charge their vehicles.
The AFP report added: “We believe there is a need for a charge point regulator. Drivers of electric vehicles need ease, reliability and consistency when using the public charging network.
“A regulator would be able to look at pricing and the possibility of price caps, simplify payment to make it easier for drivers to pay for and claim back charging across all the public charging networks (contactless via credit cards, corporate billing solutions and easy to obtain VAT receipts).”
