England: First country to mandate new homes to install EV chargers

WHY IN THE NEWS?

The British government has announced to introduce legislation in 2021, under which all the newly built homes and offices will require to feature electric vehicle chargers in England.

About:

• Under the legislation, all new homes and offices will be required to feature smart charging devices which can automatically charge vehicles during off-peak periods.
• According to it, new office blocks will require to install a charging point for every five parking spaces.
• This law will make England the first country in the world, that require all new homes to have EV chargers.
• The legislation is part of the movement that seeks to rapidly boost the number of chargers in England ahead of UK’s 2030 ban of new fossil-fuel vehicles.
• Home and office EV charger proposal is expected to start in 2022.

Significance of the legislation

This legislation will help in boosting confidence and help those who transition from gas cars in overcoming the range anxiety because many homes in England do not have off-street parking or garages.

Background

The government originally announced to mandate that all new homes have a charge point with the parking space in 2019.

UK’s 2030 ban of new fossil-fuel vehicles

United Kingdom Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, had recently announced to ban the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles from 2030, nothing the future of personal mobility on electric vehicles. The ban on gasoline vehicles had initially been proposed for 2040. But it has been brought forward by ten years under the ten-point plan of UK of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Hybrid vehicles would be phased out by 2035.