A new roaming agreement is set to provide EV drivers with easy access to charge points in the UK by the end of 2019.

Drivers only need to be a member of one of the services to gain access to the firms’ full EV charging infrastructures

The deal between Allego, EVBox and NewMotion, Chargemap, ChargePoint, Charge4Europe, Engenie, Franklin Energy and Travelcard will mean that drivers only need to be a member of one of the services to gain access to the firms’ full EV charging infrastructures.

And the firms will also share charging station information so data can be used to improve the charging experience for customers, including showing where and if a charge point is available for charging and what a charging session will cost.

Drivers will also be able to use a single account for payment, bringing benefits also when it comes to being reimbursed by their employer.

Other charge point operators and mobility service providers are also being invited to participate in the initiative, which builds on interoperability agreements in markets such as the Netherlands, France and Germany that have been accredited with fuelling the switch over to EVs.

Speaking on the announcement, Matt Western MP stated: “I have long believed that the country needs a National Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy to deal with issues around accessibility. This announcement from the collaborating parties in e-mobility is absolutely a step in the right direction.”

Sytse Zuidema, CEO of NewMotion, said the partnership will no doubt help drive EV adoption across the country, adding: “Better roaming access to charging infrastructure will also lead to more competition and product innovation. Ultimately creating a better user experience for drivers with improved applications. This will fuel the uptake of EVs as drivers will have access to apps that will show where more charge points are situated, which are available for charging in real time, but it will also simplify administrative systems for billing, settlement and reimbursement and bring the ease of charging further in line with expectations set out by a century of internal combustion engine fuelling.”