Need to know: New Smart Charger regulations

The government is introducing new regulations meaning all home and workplace electric car chargers need to have smart charging capability. But what does that mean for you?

At the end of July 2022 new government regulations come into effect that mean all home and workplace electric car chargers need to have smart charging capability.

The regulations are intended to help the National Grid adapt to the new demands of EVs and encourage drivers towards using smarter tariffs to avoid charging during peak hours. The new regulations also mean that all smart chargers need to have a data connection that has the ability to measure and transmit records so that drivers can view their charging history.

It’s another move to help the shift to electrification, and something businesses considering installing EV charging points will need to be aware of.

The Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021 were signed into law in December 2021. Not that everyone will have been aware of the impending regulations.

Electric vehicle charge points sold for private, whether that’s domestic or workplace use, are being regulated to help manage the increase in electricity demand from the transition to electric vehicles.

The new rules state that: ‘The regulations ensure charge points have smart functionality, allowing the charging of an electric vehicle when there is less demand on the grid, or when more renewable electricity is available. The regulations also ensure that charge points meet certain device-level requirements, enabling a minimum level of access, security and information for consumers.’

How to stay compliant

The regulations state that charge points must meet certain device-level requirements, which include:

• Smart functionality, including the ability to send and receive information, the ability to respond to signals to increase the rate or time at which electricity flows through the charge point, demand side response services and a user interface
• Electricity supplier interoperability, allowing the charge point to retain smart functionality even if the owner switches electricity supplier
• Continued charging even if the charge point ceases to be connected to a communications network
• Safety provisions, preventing the user carrying out an operation which could risk the health or safety of a person
• A measuring system, to measure or calculate the electricity imported or exported and the time the charging lasts, with visibility to the owner of this information
• Security requirements consistent with the existing cyber security standard ETSI EN 303 645
• Incorporate pre-set, off peak, default charging hours and allow the owner to accept, remove or change these upon first use and subsequently
• Allow for a randomised delay function

It’s the latest step in the shift to electrification, but an important one as more vehicles need to be plugged into refuel rather than drive to the local petrol station.

Click here to find out more about the electric vehicle smart charge point regulations?