From December 30, 2022, new laws will be introduced to help electric car drivers charge their vehicles at home. The latest Schedule 1: Security compliance regulations are being applied, following on from the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations that came into force in June 2022.
These new regulations and requirements aim to cover cybersecurity and tamper-protection of home charging devices.
It aims to ensure that any charge point should provide appropriate protection to the electricity system, the relevant charge point and the personal data of the owner.
Any installers wishing to fit non-compliant EV chargers from December 31, 2022, will have to seek prior approval from the Office for Product Safety and Standards.
People also need to ensure that the charge point has a unique passport and is not set by owner, in a bid to protect people’s personal information.
Smart chargers allow drivers to select when they can charge their car to ensure it has sufficient energy levels for when they need it.
This is particularly useful if they have an EV-friendly home tariff, with some offering drivers the chance to save hundreds or even thousands of pounds per year.
For any drivers concerned about their own home charger, one of the UK’s largest home EV charge providers, Ohme, has reassured motorists.
David Watson, CEO of Ohme, said that chargers were already very secure and now meet these latest requirements ahead of the deadline.
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He added: “Whether you’re an electric vehicle driver looking to buy a new smart charger, an electrical retailer offering them for sale or an installer, from the end of this year all new EV chargers are legally-bound to meet these regulations.
“For total peace of mind, drivers, retailers and installers should ensure that they’re buying a product that meets the latest regulations and ask to see the Statement of Compliance for the charger to confirm that.”
Ohme’s smart chargers enable drivers to take advantage of all the times of low-price charging, not just particular set hours by connecting with the grid in real time automatically.
Using the Ohme app, drivers can set the Home Pro to charge their vehicle when prices drop below a set point – a massive benefit during the cost of living crisis.
Ohme also allows drivers the option to charge their car with renewable energy generation on the grid is at its highest. New chargepoints will be pre-configured to avoid charging during peak hours, between 8am and 11am and between 4pm and 10pm on weekdays.
Recent data from Zap-Map found that a third of EV owners also own a petrol or diesel car, but electric is favoured for all kinds of journeys.
With the growing number of EVs on the road, home charging may become more common and popular for many motorists. The annual Zap-Map EV Charging Survey showed that most EV owners only own electric, with 49 percent driving just one full battery-electric vehicle.
For commuters, 71 percent of motorists use their EVs, and even for journeys of over 100 miles, 67 percent of drivers will stick with electric. With these longer journeys, many drivers will prefer to have the option to charge when they get home, rather than waiting at a public charging station.
