United Kingdom to mandate EV charge points in new buildings from 2022

United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced plans for a dramatic expansion of the nation’s electric vehicle charging network, ahead of a planned ban on petrol and diesel autos from 2030.

New homes and other buildings – such as supermarkets and offices – will be required to install electric vehicle charging points from next year, in an effort to add more than 145,000 new chargers per annum until the end of the decade.

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Announced during Boris Johnson’s speech to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) on Monday, the requirement will also expand to major renovations taking place on existing buildings with more than 10 parking spaces.

The Government says the extra charging points will build on the existing 25,000 home and workplace stations in the UK, and will sit alongside other scheduled expansions to the network.

“We’re regulating so as to require new homes and buildings to have EV charging points, with another 145,000 charging points to be installed thanks to these regulations,” said Johnson.

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The PM told business leaders “we must regulate less or better and take advantage of new freedoms,” while also stating the Government will increase investment in science and technology, raise productivity and “then get out your way”.

During his speech, Johnson also touched on the advancements of electric vehicles since he wrote about the first Tesla sold in the country back in 2010, as a contributing motoring journalist for GQ.

“I tried the first Tesla for sale in this country for GQ,” he said. “It expired in the fast lane of the M40, I’m sad to say, though I think they’ve got a lot better.”

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The news comes weeks after the United Kingdom hosted the COP26 climate change conference, with the British Government pledging an extra £970 million towards the nation's vehicle electrification efforts in the lead-up to the event.