Players in the emerging industry around electric vehicles (EVs) must work together to avoid “prescriptive” intervention by the government and regulators, Gemserv has warned.
Strategy and communications director, Trevor Hutchings said the failure to develop a common set of standards and protocols to protect consumers and ensure the interoperability of charging infrastructure could deter drivers from choosing an EV.
Hutchings was speaking to Utility Week after Gemserv published a consultation earlier this month on its proposals to create an Electric Vehicle Governance Framework (EVGF).
“The concern we have is that without some sort of strategic intervention then the real scale and pace at which electric vehicles need to take off to address issues like air pollution and climate change just won’t happen,” he explained.
He said if the government and regulators feel compelled to intervene there is a risk they will do so in a way that is “slow”, “inflexible” and “very prescriptive”.
Hutchings said the EVGF would ideally be backed by legislation in the same as way as existing industry codes. However, adherence to the framework would initially be voluntary, with parties signing up to gain the status conferred by accreditation.
“At this stage we want it to fly on its merits,” he said.
Gemserv is aiming to release a first version of the framework, bringing together existing rules and standards, in early 2020.