UK Gov’t Wants New Homes To Have Electric Car Chargers

The U.K. government wants to equip all new homes in the country with electric car charging points.

The news comes as the nation has proposed a number of EV-supportive initiatives regarding England’s building regulations. Sales of new petrol and diesel cars are set to end in the U.K. by 2040, but there has been discussions about moving that deadline up to 2030 or 2035. In addition, all “newly installed rapid and higher powered chargepoints” need to offer debit or credit card payment options by spring 2020.

“With record levels of ultra-low emission vehicles on our roads, it is clear there is an appetite for cleaner, greener transport,” said Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, according to Electrek. “Home charging provides the most convenient and low-cost option for consumers — you can simply plug your car in to charge overnight as you would a mobile phone.”

As the U.K. works toward net zero emissions by 2050, a recent study by the U.K.’s National Grid ESO has estimated that 35 million EVs will use smart charging technology to store large amounts of renewable electricity in the near future. Since most EV users charge at home, this requirement could boost adoption throughout the country.

According to the proposal, chargepoints would need to “have a minimum power rating output of 7kW, be fitted with a universal socket that can charge all types of electric vehicle currently on the market and meet relevant safety and accessibility requirements.”

In addition to that requirement, other recommended policy positions include “every new non-residential building and every non-residential building undergoing a major renovation with more than ten car parking spaces to have one chargepoint and cable routes for an electric vehicle chargepoint for one in five spaces.” And there would need to be at least one chargepoint in existing non-residential buildings with more than 20 car parking spaces, applicable from 2025.