Let Virta help you get compliant with
UK'S PUBLIC CHARGE POINT REGULATIONS 2023
In the UK, the government published new EV charging regulations 2023 for public charge points to enhance charging experiences for EV drivers nationwide.
These regulations came into force on 24 November 2023. Public charge point operators have one year to become compliant, two years in the case of the Payment Roaming regulation.
Dive into our breakdown of each regulation and see how the Virta Charging Solution helps you stay compliant.
1. Contactless payments
New regulation
Public charging point operators (CPO) must ensure that all new public chargers of 8 kW or above have the ability of a contactless payment. This requirement also affects existing public ultra fast charging points that had been in operation before this regulation came into force and any existing charging points that become available to the public.
Our solution
At Virta, we developed a stand-alone payment solution, the Virta Payment Kiosk, to address this need specifically. The Virta Payment Kiosk works just like a payment terminal at a classic petrol station and can easily process card payments from up to 100 charging points at one location.
2. Reliability
New regulation
Public charging points must be reliable to foster trust and guarantee EV drivers’ peace of mind. The reliability requirement states that the CPO’s network of fast and ultra fast charging points achieves 99% reliability each calendar year.
Our solution
At Virta, we record over 99% uptime on chargers connected to our back-end, the Virta Hub, thanks to extensive internal testing and constant product updates.
3. Helpline
New regulation
A CPO must provide a staffed telephone helpline free of charge 24/7, 365 days a year. The details of this customer helpline must be displayed at the charging site, on or near the charging point, for easy acces
Our solution
We know that around-the-clock customer support assures EV drivers that they can get help quickly and efficiently if something were to go wrong. A 24/7 helpline for our customers is a standard feature of our charging solution.
4. Payment roaming
New regulation
A CPO must ensure that a person using their charging points can pay to charge an EV using a payment service provided by a third-party roaming provider. Essentially, payment roaming allows the EV driver to pay for the charging session with a single mobile app or an RFID tag across multiple charging networks.
Our solution
Our roaming solution ensures that your customers have access to a wide range of charge points and payment options, making charging more accessible and convenient for them. Our platform seamlessly integrates with your existing EV charging infrastructure, so implementing contactless payment and roaming services is hassle-free.
5. Regular reporting
New regulation
According to the regulations, a CPO must submit annual reports about its network of fast or ultra fast charging points to the Secretary of State. The report must detail the number of charging points in operation and their reliability.
Our solution
At Virta, we provide you with comprehensive reports, including the total number of charge points in operation and their reliability status over the year. Our user-friendly, intuitive reporting system ensures that you stay informed and always have access to critical performance data.
6. Data
New regulation
This regulation requires CPOs to hold and deliver accurate reference and availability data. Reference data are information on the charging point’s location, type of connector available, payment methods available and pricing. Availability data are information on whether the charging point is working or out of order.
Our solution
Both reference and availability data are readily available in the Virta mobile app, and your EV drivers can access all the information with only a few clicks.
7. Displaying unit of measurement used for pricing
New regulation
This regulation mandates that the total price for charging must be displayed in pence per kilowatt-hour either on the charge point or on a separate device such as a mobile app or a one-time-payment website, given that the EV driver doesn’t need to sign up for the CPOs charging service.
Our solution
You are in complete control of the prices you set for charging at your charging points. Whatever you decide that price to be, one thing’s for sure; it will be displayed in the Virta mobile app or on our one-time payment website, clearly visible to your customers.
Ready to get compliant with the new regulations?
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