Charging an electric vehicle (EV) should be no different to fuelling a petrol or diesel car. This is the view of the government, which has launched a consultation on the subject.

Launched by Department for Transport (DfT), the consultation outlines a series of measures it believes could transform the charge point experience.

Switching on

Key is interoperability. Customers should be able to make a contactless payment, without having to download an app.

The consultation – The consumer experience at public electric vehicle charge points – also looks at improving charge point reliability. Operators would be forced to respond to faults quickly and provide a 24/7 helpline for drivers.

Furthermore, it is proposing that operators have to make pricing, location and power output information more readily available.

Mapping a positive experience

The Government believes this is essential for ensuring costs are fair. It will also drive competition and increase consumer confidence. This will also make owning an EV more attractive to potential customers as the government looks to increase EV ownership.

“These proposals will ensure that it’s as easy – or even easier – for drivers to charge their car as it is to refuel a petrol or diesel vehicle,” said the Department for Transport (DfT).

The consultation is also seeking evidence on three emerging policy areas: accessibility for disabled consumers; weatherproofing and lighting; and signage.

“In simple terms, drivers want charge points to be as easy and simple to use as a fuel pump,” says Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA. “They don’t want to have a multitude of apps or membership cards, but the ability to simply understand how much it will cost them and pay by card.”

Cheap and cheerful

The government hopes the consultation and opening up chargepoint data will improve consumer experience. By encouraging competition and innovation, and support system planning across the transport and electricity sectors, it hopes to make pricing more competitive too.

Users have long argued for simpler payment systems and charge points.

The charge point network also needs effective maintenance systems. Faults need to be repaired quickly, to ensure a minimum 99% reliability across the infrastructure.

It is a complex blend of telecoms, electricity provision, payments, real estate, and hardware. Bringing in a simple, agreed template to work to should improve competition, efficiency and the user experience.

Accelerating EV ownership

The consultation was launched at the same time as the DfT announced it would be expanding the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) to include small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and the charity sector for the first time.

In addition, it said that the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), which provides up to £350 towards a charge point, will continue and be expanded next year.

The consultation will run until April 10, 2021. Click here.