The UK’s transition to electric vehicles is accelerating rapidly, with one in six new vehicles sold in 2022 being plug-in electric. As more drivers make the switch, it’s important to understand the legal protections in place for EV owners. Let’s walk through the key safeguards, from showroom to charging point.
Purchase Protections
When buying a new electric vehicle, you’re protected by the same consumer laws that cover traditional cars. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 ensures your EV must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described. If your new EV develops a fault within the first 30 days, you’re entitled to a full refund. After 30 days but within six months, you have the right to a repair or replacement.
Think of these protections as your safety net—just as you’d expect a new washing machine to work as advertised, your EV should meet the same standards.
Home Charging Safeguards
The law has evolved to keep pace with EV technology. Since June 2022, all new home and workplace charge points sold in Great Britain must have smart charging capability under the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021. This is like having a smart meter for your charging—it helps you charge when electricity is cheapest and greenest.
The regulations also ensure your chargepoint meets minimum cybersecurity standards and won’t overload the electricity network. It’s similar to how your smartphone receives security updates to protect your personal information.
For new homes, the situation is even clearer. As of 2022, all new homes and buildings in England with associated parking must have EV charge points installed at the point of construction. This applies to major renovations too.
Public Charging Rights
When using public charge points, you’re protected by new legislation coming into effect in summer 2022. This ensures:
- You can compare charging prices easily across networks
- Payment methods are standardised
- Chargepoints are reliable and well-maintained
- Help is available if something goes wrong
The Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 ensures these are maintained to proper standards and that pricing is transparent.
Future-Proofing
Looking ahead, the government’s Electric Vehicle Smart Charging Action Plan (2023) sets out how smart charging will become the norm at home and work by 2025. This includes protections for your data privacy and ensures you’ll always have control over when your vehicle charges.
The plan also aims to make smart charging available at long-duration public charging locations by the late 2020s. Think of this as future-proofing your investment—as technology evolves, the law ensures you won’t be left behind.
Getting Help
If things go wrong, you have several routes for redress. For issues with the vehicle itself, contact the manufacturer or dealer first. For charging problems, the Office for Product Safety and Standards oversees chargepoint regulations. The Energy Savings Trust also provides impartial advice about smart charging and your rights as an EV owner.
Remember, these protections are designed to give you confidence in making the switch to electric. Just as driving laws evolved from the red flag acts of the 1800s to today’s Highway Code, EV legislation continues to develop to protect consumers in this new era of motoring.
Darren has owned several companies in the automotive, advertising and education industries. He has run driving theory educational websites since 2010.