THE government wants all new rapid and high powered chargepoints to offer debit or credit card payment options.
The deadline set is spring 2020, and would put an end to the need for different apps to charge up at rival chargepoint providers.
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.”
BP Chargemaster supported this government move by committing to card payment availability on all new 50kW and 150kW chargers from today (July 15, 2019).
The operator of the UK’s largest public charging network also said it would retrofit its existing UK-made rapid chargers with the technology over the next 12 months.
The government said that if the market was too slow to deliver improvements across the network, it would intervene by by using powers in the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act.
The announcement follows the Prime Minister’s commitment that the government will work with industry to build out the national network of high speed electric vehicle charging points.
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