‘Substantial’ risk to operators from new charge point fines

Charge point operators face a fine of £10,000 for each charger that does not meet new rules which came into force this weekend.

All electric vehicle (EV) charge points of 8kW and above, and existing chargers of 50kW of above, must now offer contactless payments to consumers.

A free-to-use 24/7 staffed telephone helpline must also be available and advertised at all charge points and operators must ensure all data is accurate and accessible through the Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI).

Furthermore, rapid charge points have to be 99% reliable, measured as an average across each charge point operator’s rapid network over the calendar year.

Information on reliability compliance must also be published on the charge point operator’s website and they are required to submit an annual reliability report to the Government.

The new measures, which came into force on Sunday, November 24, were outlined in the Public Charge Point Regulations, published by the Department for Transport (DfT) last year.

The ESP Group says that, while many operators have worked hard to ensure compliance, there are still concerns about how widespread readiness is across the UK. 

On average, a charge point operator (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 £2 million 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,” said the ESP Group. 

“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.”

Research by Drax Electric Vehicles suggests that almost half of councils, which operate thousands of charge points across the country, are compliant with the new rules.  

Drax contacted 210 local authorities across the UK, and of the 90% that responded, almost half (47%) reported they were fully compliant with the new Public Charge Point Regulations (PCPR).

More than one-in-five (21%) admitted to zero compliance, while 50 local authorities cited challenges such as funding gaps and technical hurdles.  

Adam Hall, director of energy services at Drax Electric Vehicles, said: “These findings highlight both progress and opportunity. 

“Councils are working hard to modernise their EV infrastructure, but barriers continue to exist.

“Bridging these gaps is essential to not only build confidence in the UK’s EV growing market but also help make the transition smoother for businesses and fleets who rely on a reliable public charging network.”  

The Drax research highlighted disparities in compliance across UK councils. 

Leading the charge, more than 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, but all councils are working towards compliance and have outlined plans, demonstrating their commitment. 

In Scotland, just a quarter (24%) of responding councils are fully compliant, with 20 councils (out of the 31) highlighting barriers such as outdated infrastructure. 

Naomi Nye, EV charging expert at Drax Electric Vehicles, said: “The regional differences highlight the need for greater collaboration and support to ensure that no council is left behind in building a robust charging network. 

“These differences also impact businesses and fleets, who depend on equitable access to reliable charging infrastructure, regardless of location.”

Among the 20,979 public charge points operated by responding councils, 58% are fully compliant. 

“For UK businesses, a dependable public charging network is critical for fleet operations and long-range efficiency,” added Hall. 

“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.” 

More than 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.  

Nye said: “While compliance is not yet universal, the transparency and proactive engagement in addressing these issues are commendable. Businesses can be reassured that efforts to strengthen the network are underway.”

Drax Electric Vehicles is calling for increased collaboration between councils, the private sector, and the UK Government. 

Transparency about progress and barriers, it says, will be essential to developing a future-ready charging network that will aid in achieving the UK’s net zero ambitions.  

Nye 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.” 

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