Say goodbye to clunky payment systems
And hello to staying compliant without losing your mind.
Public EV charging just got a regulatory shake-up.
As of 24 November 2024, a raft of updates to the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 kicks in - and if your business has anything to do with public charging, it’s time to get serious.
These changes aim to do one thing: Make charging simpler, faster, and more reliable for UK drivers.
Sounds great, right? But behind the buzzwords are some major technical and compliance challenges - especially for anyone managing public chargers. Some of these updates are easy to implement.
Others? Not so much.
Let’s break it down.
What’s the point of the regulation update?
Two key goals:
1. Usability
No more app downloads, confusing tariffs, or membership hoops. Make pricing clear. Make payments easy.
2. Reliability
EV drivers need to find working charge points - and trust that they’ll actually work. This isn’t just for motorway service stations. “Public” charge points now include:
Car parks (yes, even the ones at gyms, hotels, retail parks, and train stations)
Chargers available only during certain hours.
Locations open to the public or specific customers
The bottom line: If someone can rock up and use the charger, it’s public. And the regs apply.
“This includes situations in which a charge point: may only be accessed during restricted hours [or] is situated in a public car park, whether or not that car park is available only to customers of specific goods or services” - Public Charge Point Regulations 2023
Who’s responsible?
Not always the site owner. The legal responsibility falls on the Charge Point Operator (CPO) - the company running and maintaining the charger’s backend systems.
If that’s you - or a business you're working with - these changes need to be on your radar.
What’s changing, and when?
The Electric Vehicle Association England (EVA) has done a great job of detailing the major changes and implications and below is a summary of key areas impacted along with deadlines to comply.
Here’s your cheat sheet:
Pricing Transparency
What: Clearly display prices in pence per kWh
Why: Drivers want to know what they’re paying - before they plug in
When: Already in force (since 24 Nov 2023)
Contactless Payments
What: New charge points ≥8kW = must offer contactless. Existing ones ≥50kW = must be upgraded
Why: No more app faff. Just tap and go
When: 24 Nov 2024
99% Reliability Requirement
What: Rapid chargers must average 99% uptime across your network
Why: Reliability builds trust - and keeps drivers coming back
When: 24 Nov 2024
24/7 Helpline
What: A free, staffed helpline must be available and advertised at each charger
Why: When something goes wrong, drivers need instant support
When: 24 Nov 2024
Open Data Compliance
What: Use OCPI to open up live data about your chargers
Why: Let drivers see if a charger is free before they arrive
When: 24 Nov 2024
Roaming Support
What: Allow drivers to pay via at least one roaming provider
Why: More flexibility = happier users
When: 24 Nov 2025
Payments: The elephant in the car park
Of all the changes, contactless payments are the biggest technical hurdle.
According to the wonderful ZapMap stats page, as of 30th September 2024 the UK boasted 16,241 public chargers that fit this category (ie. >=8kW & <50kW). Of this number, only about 4,500 have been installed since the regulations update.
This means thousands still need upgrading to stay compliant.
And if they’re not?
That’s £10,000 per non-compliant charge point. Sounds easy to fix, right? Plug in a card reader and go? Well not so fast… as Steve Large CEO and Technical Director of Hangar 19 explains;
“EV charging has been on the 'contactless journey' for some years. This journey will pass through various stages but what's become clear is that adding contactless to a charge point is challenging! There's a whole new world of payment management and system integration for charge point manufacturers and operators to get their head round.”
This is where the Voqa One steps into the arena: with contactless payments integrated as standard, commercial destination charging becomes effortless.
“The Voqa One is an exciting product as it's born out of contactless payment expertise - it's payment mechanisms are fully integrated to the charge point, a market first in my opinion. All other chargers I've seen bolt on 3rd party terminals and like anyone who's a regular user of public rapid chargers we all know the pain points when that reader doesn't play nicely with the charger!” - Steve Large, Hangar 19
Introducing Voqa One: Regulation-ready by design
The Voqa One isn’t retrofitted or hacked together. It was built with contactless payment at the core, not as an afterthought.
It’s simple. Seamless. And exactly what the new regs are asking for.
Why it matters for your business
âś… Stay compliant (without panicking in November)
âś… Avoid ÂŁ10k fines
âś… Give drivers what they want: tap-and-go charging
âś… Boost usage and revenue by removing friction
âś… Future-proof your investment with smart, scalable tech
And best of all? It’s not just about ticking boxes. It’s about giving EV drivers a better experience - because a better experience means better business.
Ready to simplify payments and stay compliant?
Whether you run a gym car park, manage a retail estate, or operate a hotel chain, Voqa One puts you in the driving seat.
The clock’s ticking on compliance.
But with the right tech, it doesn’t have to be painful.