All newly-installed rapid and higher-powered electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints should provide debit or credit card payments by next year, the government announced today (15 July).
The Department for Transport said it expects the industry to develop a roaming solution across the charging network, allowing EV drivers to use any public chargepoint through a single payment method.
This will rid drivers of the need to use multiple smartphone apps or membership cards in order to charge their EVs.
The government has also said it is prepared to intervene to ensure a “good deal for consumers” by using powers in the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act.
More than 20,000 publicly accessible chargepoints have been installed to date, including more than 2,000 rapid devices.
The government said it is working with industry to make chargepoint data freely available in a bid to increase confidence in the network and reduce range anxiety.
Future of mobility minister, Michael Ellis, said: “The government’s vision is for the UK to have one of the best electric vehicle charging networks in the world, but we know the variety of payment methods at the moment is a source of frustration for drivers.
“It is crucial there are easy payment methods available to improve electric vehicle drivers’ experiences and give drivers choice. This will help even more people enjoy the benefits electric vehicles bring and speed up our journey to a zero-emission future.”
This announcement comes as BP Chargemaster, the operator of the UK’s largest public charging network, has introduced card payment options on all new 50kW and 150kW chargers.
BP Chargemaster will also retrofit its existing UK-made rapid chargers with the technology over the next year.
Under current plans all new petrol and diesel vehicles will be banned by 2040, but some industry voices have suggested this should be brought forward.
A report by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) said the UK needs to “ramp up” its decarbonisation policies in order to meet the target of net zero emissions by 2050.
This included bringing the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035 “at the latest”.