Workplace chargers open to the general public could be liable for significant fines if they’re not compliant with latest public charger regulation.

The Budget pledged over £200m for charging in 2025/6

The Government’s Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 (PCPRs) came into force a year ago and set out new requirements from 24 November 2024, backed by fines for non-compliance.

The regulations apply to any charge point operators (CPOs); classed as a person who is contracted to operate public charge points on a landowner’s land which is available for use by the general public.

Speaking to Fleet World, the Government has confirmed that the rules also apply to workplace chargers not exclusive to a single vehicle brand (e.g. Tesla) and open to the general public and visitors to charge at for a fee. The legislation does not apply to exclusively workplace or domestic charge points.

The Government introduced the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 to “ensure that the experience of consumers using public charge points across the UK is consistent and positive”.

The regulations place requirements on the charge point operator responsible for overall operation of public charge points.

A charge point operator means the person responsible for operating a public charge point, whether as an owner or as a third party on behalf of the owner.

A person who owns the public charge point but is not responsible for management, operation and maintenance is not classed as the operator.

Failure to comply with these regulations could result in fines of up to £10,000 per charge point. And ESP Group, which helps charging operators ensure compliance, says there is significant financial risk for charging providers who are not yet fully prepared.

Under the legislation, owners and operators of public charge points in the UK have been required to display the maximum price of a charging session since November 2023.

As of 24 November 2024, they also need to comply with four additional regulations for eligible charge points:

• New public charge points of 8kW+ and all existing charge points of 50kW+ must support contactless payment

• Ensure 99% reliability for rapid charge points

• Provide a free-to-use 24/7 helpline

• Use the Open Charge Point Interface (OPCPI) for greater accessibility

Additionally, from 2025, charge point operators will be required to allow drivers to connect via at least one roaming provider.

While many operators have worked hard to ensure compliance, ESP Group says there are still concerns about how widespread readiness is across the UK. On average, a CPO manages around 200 public charge points. With non-compliance fines of £10,000 per charge point, an operator failing to meet the standards could face penalties of up to £2m for their network.

Across the country, the potential financial exposure for the industry is substantial, especially for larger operators with hundreds of charge points to manage. As the number of public charge points in the UK surpassed 68,000 earlier this year, total non-compliance could result in billions of pounds in fines for the sector, according to ESP Group.

Strides and setbacks in public EV charger compliance across British councils

Drax Electric Vehicles meanwhile has published a study show uncovering gaps in public EV charger compliance across British councils.

Its data reveals nearly half of British councils have now achieved full compliance with the legislation but many others face challenges such as funding shortfalls and outdated technology.

Drax contacted 210 local authorities across the UK, and of the 90% that responded, nearly half (47%) reported they were fully compliant. More than one in five (21%) admitted to zero compliance, while 50 local authorities cited challenges such as funding gaps and technical hurdles.

The data also reveals disparities in compliance across UK councils. Leading the charge, over half (56%) of English local authorities with data reported full compliance. However, 22 councils cited challenges such as funding limitations and contactless payment issues, which was attributed to factors like the age of the chargers and signal strength.

In Wales, 43% are fully compliant, while 43% are entirely non-compliant. However, all councils are working towards compliance and have outlined plans, demonstrating their commitment.

Across Scotland, only 24% of responding councils are fully compliant. A total of 20 councils (out of the 31) highlighted barriers such as outdated infrastructure, underscoring the need for investment.

Over two-fifths (42%) of councils reported specific challenges that hindered their ability to achieve full compliance. These challenges included technical difficulties in adapting older charge points to support contactless payment systems due to outdated hardware systems and complexity with signal strength, insufficient funding for necessary infrastructure upgrades, and issues with managing the reliability of charge points and associated helpline services.

Drax said that addressing these challenges is not just about regulatory compliance, it’s essential for supporting businesses and fleets that rely on dependable charging options.

Adam Hall, director of energy services at Drax Electric Vehicles, commented: “For UK businesses, a dependable public charging network is critical for fleet operations and long-range efficiency. While we’re helping businesses install reliable EV chargers at their sites, public infrastructure must also keep pace. PCPR compliance ensures EV drivers have access to dependable charging options, no matter where they are.”

As the next PCPR deadline approaches from 2025, the company has called for increased collaboration between councils, the private sector and the UK government, and says transparency about progress and barriers will be essential to developing a future-ready charging network that will aid in achieving the UK’s net zero ambitions.

Naomi Nye, EV charging expert at Drax Electric Vehicles, said: “Achieving compliance is just the beginning. For businesses and fleets, the priority must also be on future-proofing the UK’s EV infrastructure. Collaborative solutions today will ensure that fleets have access to an inclusive and resilient charging network.”

Full details of the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, examples of charging infrastructure considered accessible to the public and charge points in scope of the regulations are online here.