All new homes in England could be fitted with an electric car charge point, under plans announced by the government.
The world-first legislation would ensure that all new homes with a dedicated parking space are built with a charge point.
Owners of existing properties can receive up to £500 off the cost of installing a charge point at home, but this proposal could kick-start an electric car revolution.
‘Appetite for cleaner, greener transport’
“With record levels of ultra-low emission vehicles on our roads, it is clear there is an appetite for cleaner, greener transport,” said transport secretary Chris Grayling.
“Home charging provides the most convenient and low-cost option for consumers – you can simply plug your car in to charge overnight as you would a mobile phone.”
If the move is successful, England would become the first country in the world to introduce mandatory charge points in new homes. It follows an announcement that all new charge points should accept card payments by spring 2020.
Installing charge points at new homes would cost approximately £976 per parking space, but this is significantly less than the £2,040 it costs for a retrofitted charge point.
Philip New, chief executive at innovation centre Energy Systems Catapult, said: “This is an unequivocally sensible move. It may enable some benefits of scale.”
The proposed policy positions
Policy position: residential buildings
The government proposes every new residential building with an associated car parking space to have a charge point. We propose this requirement applies to buildings undergoing a material change of use to create a dwelling.
The government proposes requiring every residential building undergoing major renovation with more than ten car parking spaces to have one charge point and cable routes for electric vehicle charge points in every car parking space.
Policy position: new non-residential buildings
The government proposes every new non-residential building and every non-residential building undergoing a major renovation with more than 10 car parking spaces to have one charge point and cable routes for an electric vehicle charge point for one in five spaces.
Policy position: existing non-residential buildings
The government proposes a requirement of at least one charge point in existing non-residential buildings with more than 20 car parking spaces, applicable from 2025.
The consultation period began on 15 July and will run until 7 October