Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is his policy to (a) make electric vehicle charge point payments payable by debit or credit card or (b) continue the existing subscription system.

Answer (Rachel Maclean)

A good consumer experience is vital to ensure electric vehicle (EV) uptake and drivers should find the charging experience as easy as refuelling an internal combustion engine car. We want drivers to be able to make quick and easy payments at rapid and high-powered chargers to help make ad-hoc, longer journeys fast and hassle free.

Last year the Government announced that we wanted to see all new rapid and higher powered chargepoints provide debit or credit card payment by spring 2020. We also announced that we wanted to see industry work together to deliver a roaming solution across the charging network, allowing EV drivers to use any public chargepoint through a single payment method without needing multiple smartphone apps or membership cards.

We are clear that we expect the market to respond, and follow the lead of those chargepoint operators, including BP Chargemaster, the largest chargepoint operator in the UK, who have already made a commitment that they will provide this facility at their chargepoints. The Government took powers through in the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act (AEVA) to regulate the EV infrastructure market. If the market does not make sufficient progress in this area quickly Government stands ready to require chargepoint operators to do so through regulation.