Changes to the EV Smart Charge Points Regulations – What You Need to Know
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The world is shunning fossil fuels and moving towards energy-efficient sources. Specifically, in the transport sector, there is a concerted effort to encourage the use of hybrid or electric vehicles in a bid to reduce pollution. And the United Kingdom is at the forefront of this development.
Indeed, the UK government has proposed the banning of diesel and petrol vehicles by 2030. Moves towards this target can already be observed, with the demand for electric and hybrid vehicles having doubled from 2019 to 2021 [1]. This increase has driven the further development of the charging infrastructure, by introducing smart charging points.
Smart charging points
Smart charge points are safe charging systems that share data connections between electric users, charging stations, and operators. The government has established The Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021 to protect end-users’ personal data and relevant charge points, from a deliberate cyber-attack or malware infection.
The regulations were drafted in consultation with the BEAMA EV infrastructure group, of which Versinetic is an active member. We are pleased to have played a role in crafting the guidelines, which support the transition to a green economy, and future-proof the electric vehicle infrastructure.
With the announcement that the UK Government had published official guidance for compliance, BEAMA stated:
“BEAMA and our community of members are working closely with the OPSS [Office for Product Safety and Standards] and its designated partners to ensure the enforcement of the Regulations is appropriate and proportionate.”
What are Smart Charge Points Regulations?
These are the requirements that all smart charge points should meet. Below are the main components of the set guidelines.
Smart functionality
The relevant charging points must have smart functionality, which enables the provision of side response services and a communication network to send and receive information. It can also increase or reduce power supply to respond to information and other signals.
State of art software
The charging station must incorporate software that can be updated using cryptographic measures. This software protects the system against cyber-attacks and regularly checks for security updates. Additionally, the software must have the capacity to validate the integrity and genuineness of the updates. What’s more, it should be easy for the owner to update without undue difficulties. Therefore, the inputs required to install and operate should also be minimal.
Communications
Every charge point requires robust security measures and should be able to send encrypted communications. The regulations also require the charge points to have adequate protection against physical damage. Specifically, the point should be designed with a tamper-proof boundary that alerts the owner if there is a breach.
Charging point security
Additionally, relevant charge points must have a security log or electronic record showing attempts to: · Breach the tamper protection boundary · gain access · or tamper with relevant charge points
Compliance documentation
Charging points need documentation proving compliance with the regulatory requirements. The information should also show expected problems or concerns, along with reporting processes. Moreover, it should specify the period in which software updates will be provided, give guidance on setting up the charging point to ensure security protection, and present direction on deleting personal data.
Other requirements include:
● The charging point should be configured such that default charging hours are outside peak hours (8 am-11 am weekday and 4 pm to 10 pm weekend).
● The smart functionality must continue even with a change of electricity supplier.
● The owner must have a register of charge point sales in the past ten years.
You can find the full guidance for electric vehicle smart charge points, here.
Rollout dates for the regulations
The guidelines will come into force on 30 June 2022. However, the enforcement could start in 2023 if the reports by IT industry news site the Register are anything to go by. This gives the electric vehicle charging services providers and homeowners about six months to comply.
The effect of the new Charging Point rules
The new legislation will apply in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. It will be enforced by the secretary of state, who will review the regulatory provisions from time to time.
The changes will affect all car users across the board. Perhaps the most affected group will be the smart charging system manufacturers. Essentially, they should design their devices with the required software and functionalities and adhere to set guidance.
All this should happen in the next six months, as the regulations go live in June 2022. This could mean that they need to appoint EV charging software specialists and raise more capital investment quickly for designing and producing the software, which may be an uphill task.
Car owners will also be affected. The problem for them arises when vehicles need charging, urgently. As the charging points are designed by default not to charge during peak hours, EV drivers will be susceptible to delays when charging their car within this time period.
Why are the regulations important?
Like most smart technologies, smart charging is designed to enhance effectiveness and efficiency in energy consumption. For instance, as mentioned, the chargers are programmed to switch off during peak hours (8 am to 11 am) to ease pressure on the national grid. However, the owners have leeway to override the default time. This will cater to people with different schedules, such as nighttime workers.
But perhaps the essential point is the security feature. The authorities will monitor the smart charging points through regular inspection and information collection. Indeed, the systems are designed to shield users from cyber-attacks. This makes it hard to access user data and this in turn protects their privacy. For example, the rules require the charging system to alert the owner of physical breaches.
Industry concerns arising from these regulations
Electric vehicle chargers installed at home will require a separate meter. The information will be sent to the smart meter data communications network. As a result, the legislation allows the government to charge higher rates than domestic electricity; and ration the power by deciding when the electric vehicles (EV) can be charged.
Final words
The Smart Charging Point Regulations are designed to enhance the sustainable use of electricity to power cars. The set guidelines limit charging during peak hours to prevent overwhelming the national grid. In addition, the software requirements ensure that users and their data are safe and secure at all times.
While it is a good starting point, it is important to allow flexibility to tweak the guidance and ensure all concerns are addressed. However, enacting the rules is a good step in the right direction.
You can view the UK Government guidelines for sellers of electric vehicle charge points, published February 2022, here.
