The Government has announced plans to simplify the process of installing home EV chargers, particularly for renters, leaseholders, and drivers without access to a private driveway.
Under the proposals, planning rules would be reformed to make it easier for more people to charge their vehicles at home. This includes potential changes to planning permission requirements for installing ‘cross-pavement’ charging gullies – discreet cable channels that allow residents to run charging cables safely across pavements.
The Government estimates that removing the need for planning applications in such cases could save residents up to £250 in fees. The reforms also propose mandating EV chargepoints in new covered car parks.
In parallel, the Department for Transport and Ofgem plan to review the costs and protections for renters and leaseholders using shared or landlord-owned electricity connections, to prevent overcharging and improve access to standard domestic electricity rates.
A public consultation on the reforms will be launched shortly to seek input from industry and stakeholders, including on how the measures can best be implemented.
The announcement builds on several recent initiatives aimed at expanding EV infrastructure and reducing costs for consumers, including the Electric Car Grant and money invested in the rollout of public chargers.
The BVRLA will review the consultation once published and submit a response. Any feedback or questions can be sent to [email protected].
Government looks to slash red tape to make charging electric vehicles at home easier - GOV.UK.
