England to Lead the Charge for EV Points
As reported by Business Standard, new legislation is set to be introduced by the Government that will make it compulsory for all new build homes and offices to incorporate electric vehicle (EV) charging points that can automatically charge vehicles during off-peak windows.
This law – expected to come into play in 2022 – is the first of its kind in the world and ties into the UK’s 2030 ban of new fossil-fuel vehicles.
A survey by Kwik Fit found that the main reason drivers were put off buying an electric car was the lack of fast charging points in the areas they commonly drive (37%), with a further 30% citing the lack of home charging facilities. In fact, 4 of the top 5 reasons were all concerned with charging capabilities.
While the new legislation will hopefully ease some of these concerns and get more people making the transition, it shifts the pressure to developers to deliver charging points to their new developments.
The requirement for offices will be to provide a charging point per every five parking spaces – although unconfirmed, it stands to reason that developers of apartment buildings may have similar responsibilities. What’s currently less clear is what will be expected from homes without off-street parking, especially those in urban areas, not to mention developments that have been granted permission on the condition of it being car-free, to alleviate local congestion.
As we wait for further details to emerge, developers will need to consider how best to incorporate EV charging points into their homes – and if it will increase demand for off-street parking.
The onus will also be on developers to educate homeowners on how to use the charging points. This is something we have previously helped with, through our homeowner manuals and the document library on our award-winning Spaciable portal. To find out more about how we can help acclimatise your homeowners with the various systems in their home, book a call-back, here.
