The Government has new powers to mandate electric vehicle (EV) charge points at motorway services after the Autonomous and Electric Vehicles Act passed through Parliament.
The legislation will also allow mayors to request installations at large fuel retailers in their areas.
Furthermore, it aims to improve consumer confidence in charging vehicles by: making sure that public charge points are compatible with all vehicles; standardising how they are paid for; and setting standards for reliability.
Roads minister Jesse Norman said: “The UK is becoming a world leader in the roll-out of low-emission transport. Today we have passed a significant milestone in that journey.
“The increasing automation of our cars is transforming the way we drive, and the government is steadily updating our laws in order to prepare for the future. This act will ensure that the UK’s infrastructure and insurance system is ready for the biggest transport revolution in a century.â€
The act will also bring automated vehicle insurance in line with longstanding motor insurance practice, ensuring that motorists are covered both when they are driving, and when the driver has legitimately handed control to the vehicle.
The measures in the new act form part of the government’s recently launched Road to Zero strategy. The strategy sets the stage for the biggest technology advancement to hit UK roads since the invention of the combustion engine.
