Electric vehicle charge points to be made mandatory at large petrol retailers

New plans could boost access and availability of charge points for electric vehicles

Electric vehicle charge points to be made mandatory at large petrol retailers

Large petrol retailers will be required to install electric vehicle charge points, under plans announced in the House of Commons by Transport Minister John Hayes.

The Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill will increase the access and availability of charge points for electric cars, while also giving the government powers to make it compulsory for charge points to be installed across the country and enabling drivers of automated cars to be insured on UK roads.

John Hayes said: “We want the UK to be the best place in the world to do business and a leading hub for modern transport technology, which is why we are introducing the Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill in Parliament and investing more than £1.2 billion in the industry.

“This bill will aid the construction of greater infrastructure to support the growing demand for automated and electric vehicles as we embrace this technology and move into the future.”

Demand for electric

All charge points will have to be ‘smart’, meaning they can interact with the grid in order to manage demand for electricity across the country.

Jesse Norman also announced further funding for local authorities at the Smarter Travel Conference in Milton Keynes last week (19 October 2017) to fund install charge points in residential areas where cars are parked on the street.

All drivers of automated vehicles will be required to be insured and victims of collisions involving an automated vehicle will have quick and easy access to compensation, in line with existing insurance practices.

James Dalton of the Association of British Insurers said: “Insurers wholeheartedly support the development of automated vehicles, as they have the potential to significantly reduce the large number of road accidents caused by driver error.

“We support the approach the government has taken in the bill, as this will give the industry time to prepare for the commercial rollout of fully automated driving technology.”

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