One year on from the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023
The Government introduced the Public Charge Point Regulations (PCPRs) 2023 to “ensure that the experience of consumers using public charge points across the UK is consistent and positive”.
While the PCPRs appeared on 24 November 2023, many of the regulations are only coming into force now. So, over the last 12 months, how has the industry reacted – and are organisations’ charging facilities now compliant?
The regulations
Before we remind ourselves of the content of the 2023 PCPRs and their deadlines for implementation, it’s worth clarifying who they apply to.
The regulations apply to charge point operators (CPOs) – or third parties on behalf of owners – facilitating EV charging to the general public in the UK. Chargers will fall under the regulations even if they’re on private land or only available for limited hours – as long as they’re accessible to the general public.
Pricing transparency
This element of the regulations dictates that chargers – or nearby devices – must display the maximum price that the customer will pay (per kWh). The deadline for this was 24 November 2023 – the day the Government announced the 2023 PCPRs.
Contactless payments
New charge points with power of 8kW or more per socket – and existing DC chargers with power of 50kW or more – need to offer contactless payments. That means customers need to be able to pay with their bank card or connected mobile device at a contactless terminal on or near the charger. The deadline for complying with this element of the PCPRs was 24 November 2024.
Reliability
DC rapid chargers and contactless payment terminals needed to achieve 99% accessibility (‘uptime’) by 24 November 2024. Their owners will need to start tracking accessibility performance in the new year in order to submit 2025 uptime statistics in January 2026. The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) will provide more information in due course to support embedding consistency (for example, clarifying exemptions) in calculation methodologies.
Helplines
CPOs need to provide a free-of-charge, 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week helpline and display details of it at charge points. These helplines and notices need to be in place by 24 November 2024, and CPOs need to submit quarterly helpline-activity reports from 31 January 2025.
Open data
Real-time data needs to be accurate and publicly available via the Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI) by 24 November 2024.
Roaming compatibility
‘Roaming’ allows drivers to charge using their chosen method of payment on all charging networks. CPOs need to connect to a roaming provider and enable all of their public-facing chargers with roaming capability by November 2025.
How do these regulations look, a year on?
We still see the 2023 PCPRs as important stepping stones in driving improvements for users. We’re looking forward to working – with the support of industry bodies – to evolve them to further encourage the uptake of EVs in the UK.
The reporting regulations will also help develop a more detailed public charge point register. In turn, this register should eventually be able to directly or indirectly advise drivers of charger locations, availability and uptime statistics via one real-time charging directory.
With time running out for CPOs to implement some of the regulations, we can foresee some steps back to enable forward progress in certain areas. There’s still some ambiguity that needs clearing up in order for CPOs to really understand what compliance entails – and what concessions the Government will consider.
Examples include:
- Defining accessibility exemptions in order to generate accurate, consistent uptime data. A charger may be inaccessible due to nearby scaffolding or the location of a skip, for example. Do CPOs need to report their functional but inaccessible chargers as ‘down’?
- The requirement for helpline reporting to cover resolution timeframes. What qualifies as resolution? If CPOs are to report resolution timeframes in 10-minute increments, do they need to round a one-minute resolution up to 10?
What more needs to happen to encourage electrification?
Although there’s a slight lack of clarity in the 2023 PCPRs, questions and suggestions from CPOs will help improve the regulations for the future and create accountability. This will be crucial for not just introducing regulations but enforcing them to improve the UK’s charging infrastructure and EV driver experience.
Of course, infrastructure improvements won’t just come from updated regulations. The UK needs more chargers in the ground – both in public settings and on business premises – to reduce the strain on the existing, limited charging network.
One possible addition would be the introduction of safety measures in the regulations to combat driver vulnerability when charging. The inclusion of clear lighting, shelter and security-camera standards in future regulations would force CPOs, landlords or owners to do more for drivers’ peace of mind.
Similarly, direct contact lines from charge points to help staff would provide an extra layer of security. CPOs shouldn’t assume all drivers have mobile phones – with sufficient battery life and network connection – to make helpline calls.
The PCPRs might also look to PAS 1899 for guidance about charging accessibility.
We’d also welcome the expansion of regulations to cover non-public-facing chargers, too. At Drax, we welcomed the introduction of the 2023 PCPRs and aim to make all the chargers we install adhere with the regulations – whether they’re public-facing or not. It’s important to improve the user experience for fleet drivers, staff and business visitors – just as it is for members of the public – to drive the UK’s electrification.
