The UK government has announced that all newly built rapid EV chargepoints should accept debit of credit card payments by early 2020.
The UK’s electric vehicle (EV) charging network is one of the largest in Europe with 20,000 chargepoints accessible by the public, 2,000 of which provide rapid charging capability. The government, which is in consultation with industry bodies to make data on chargepoints freely available to the public to enable drivers to easily find their nearest charging location, has indicated that it expects operators building new high-powered and rapid EV chargepoints to develop a holistic solution which will allow consumers to use a single payment method across all available charging points, rather than needing to use membership cards or apps.
Business and Industry Minister Andrew Stephenson said: “Initiatives like this are essential as we move towards a net zero [emissions] economy, making it easier than ever for people to own and use electric vehicles. Investing in batteries, technology and infrastructure through our modern Industrial Strategy and Faraday Battery Challenge will ensure the UK leads the world in the global transition away from fossil fuels while supporting the future of our automotive industry.”
BP Chargemaster, which is responsible for the largest public EV charging network in the UK, has declared its commitment to equipping all new 50kW and 150kW chargers with card payment capability; as well as retrofitting all its existing rapid EV chargepoints with the requisite technology to accept card payments within the next year. David Newton, CEO at BP Chargemaster, said: “As the operator of the UK’s largest public charging network, including the greatest number of rapid chargers, we support the government’s vision for all new rapid and ultra-fast chargers to support contactless bank card payment.”
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.”
