Electric car drivers will only need one app to pay for public chargepoints operated by different companies, under legislation laid in Parliament.
Motorists are currently forced to use multiple smartphone apps or membership cards to access different charging networks.
Mandating so-called payment roaming is among new Department for Transport (DfT) regulations aimed at encouraging the uptake of electric vehicles by making it easier, cheaper and more convenient to charge them across the UK.
New @transportgovuk regs laid today will make it easier to charge your EV
🗺Help find working chargepoints wherever you travel across the UK💳Ensure a universal pricing metric so you can compare prices⚡Make it easier and quicker for you to pay for your charge
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— Jesse Norman (@Jesse_Norman) July 11, 2023
Operators will be required to accept contactless payments at newly installed chargepoints at eight kilowatts and above, and at existing rapid chargepoints.
A standardised pence per kilowatt hour price will be mandated to enable drivers to compare the cost of using different networks.
Rapid chargepoint networks will be required to function for 99% of the time during a calendar year, and a new helpline will be launched to support motorists when something goes wrong with electric vehicle charging.
Chargepoint data will also be opened up to make it easier for drivers to check their availability.
AA president Edmund King said: “This is a welcome step and we are pleased that the Government has listened to our requests to create more confidence when charging away from home.
“A 99% reliability requirement and live chargepoint information will help show drivers in real-time the benefits of driving electric.”
Many automotive experts believe the UK’s public charging network must be significantly improved before the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030.
