A 101 on what the new building regulation reforms mean for EV charge point installers

EVs have been a hot topic in recent years. With the 2030 UK ban on all new petrol and diesel cars edging closer, it is more important than ever to pay attention to goings on in the EV industry, writes Nick Woolley, CEO and co-founder of ev.energy.

With uptake ramping up – nearly 400,000 EVs were registered last year; that’s a growth of 92% on 2020 – new laws, guidelines, and regulations are being introduced to ensure a smooth transition.

One such example is the new Part S of UK’s Building Regulations. Let’s explore what this means for EV charger installers.

An overview of the new building regulations

The new Part S regulation, which came into effect in June 2022, requires all new build and retrofit homes, plus commercial buildings with more than 10 parking spaces, to have a minimum of one charge point. The government hopes the regulation will lead to the installation of around 145,000 new EV chargers – helping it close the 15:1 EV to EV charger ratio goal.

Not only will the regulation help close this gap, but there’s also hope that it will trigger further investment into the EV sector. This is what is required if EVs are to play their necessary part in helping the UK get to net zero by 2050.

“Installers will play an integral part in the UK’s journey to net zero”

Opportunities for installers

Currently, much of the sector is privately funded, but the new regulation will have huge implications for property developers. Many will turn to EV charger installers to ensure that properties abide by the new requirements.

EV charger installers will be working hard to keep up with increased demand from developers. Installers can leverage the Part S reform and secure more lucrative partnerships for themselves; however, they need to be sure they’re offering developers what they want.

What makes an EV installer attractive?

To stand out, EV charging firms need to forge a unique market position. What Car? recently revealed Britain’s best charging networks, rating them on their ease, cost, dependability and charging speeds. Installers need to consider what they want to offer developers and EVSE manufacturers – do they want to be associated with the most reliable EV charging network, or perhaps they want to team up with a brand that offers the best value for money? Once this has been established, installers can engage in strategic partnerships with key industry developers, such as Easee, waEV-charge and BriXcell, and potentially win huge commercial contracts, enabling installers to rapidly expand their network across the UK. Installers could even consider offering profit share agreements to make partnerships even more attractive to EVSE manufacturers, landowners, and property developers.

Smart charging facilities represent another feature that will only make an EV charging firm more appealing to a residential developer. With EV charging units likely to add a layer of operational complexity to any property manager’s role, smart charging can help by offering comprehensive usage reports and billing options. What’s more, smart charging enables people to save money – sometimes hundreds of pounds – on their energy bills. ev.energy offers its customers incentives for not charging their cars during peak times. Offerings like this will only make a developer’s properties more appealing to buyers.

A final word

2030 is fast approaching and the new regulations are set to help the UK’s transition to EVs. Installers will play an integral part in the UK’s journey to net zero. The potential for the industry to grow and thrive is massive – but only if installers are on the front foot and are offering landowners and property developers the very best, future-proof charging technology.

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