UK government: compulsory installation of EV charge points and insurance for AV drivers

Motorway services and large petrol retailers will have to install charge points for electric vehicles (EVs), under the UK Government's Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill, presented by transport minister John Hayes. In addition, official research estimates that the market for driverless vehicles will be worth £50 billion ($66 billion) by 2035. The bill will increase the access and availability of charge points for EVs, which will have to be ‘smart,' meaning that they can interact with the grid to manage
October 19, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Motorway services and large petrol retailers will have to install charge points for electric vehicles (EVs), under the UK Government's Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill, presented by transport minister John Hayes. In addition, official research estimates that the market for driverless vehicles will be worth £50 billion ($66 billion) by 2035.


The bill will increase the access and availability of charge points for EVs, which will have to be ‘smart,' meaning that they can interact with the grid to manage the demand for electricity across the country.

Drivers will be able to locate charge points using information from sat navs or mobile apps, regardless of the vehicle make or model.

In 2016, 85.9% of collisions causing injury involved human error; giving AVs the potential to reduce the amount of road traffic accidents. AV drivers will be required to be insured and victims of collisions involving an AV will have access to compensation in line with the existing insurance policies.

Hayes said: “We want the UK to be the best place in the world to do business as a leading hub for modern transport technology; that is why we are introducing the Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill in Parliament and investing more than £1.2 billion in the industry."

James Dalton, director of general insurance policy at the Association of British Insurers, said: “Insurers wholeheartedly support the development of automated vehicles, as they have the potential to significantly reduce the large number of road accidents caused by driver error. We support the approach the Government has taken in the Bill, as this will give the industry time to prepare for the commercial rollout of fully automated driving technology.”

Enforcement

Related Content

  • Wellington council to install 15 EV chargers in residential areas
    April 5, 2019
    Wellington City Council in New Zealand is to install 15 electric vehicle (EV) chargers in residential areas in a bid to lower transport emissions. The council is hoping that the move will enable people who do not have off-street parking and are unable to charge their vehicle at home to buy and operate an EV. Chris Calvi-Freeman, the council’s transport portfolio leader, says: “Road transport currently contributes 38% of the city’s emissions. We want to help Wellingtonians to make good, environmental
    Read More
  • UK government invests £7m to boost cycle safety
    February 27, 2018
    The UK government will invest £7m ($5m) in cycling projects to improve road safety and create more bike-friendly areas that encourage more people to cycle as part of everyday journeys. It is part of the Department of Transport’s (DoT’s) cycle safety review, which aims to ensure that the country’s roads are as safe as possible for everyone using them. Eight cities, which have already received help from the government to promote cycling, will be able to bid for an additional £6.5m ($4.6m) of funding to
    Read More
  • British drivers face ban on hands-free mobiles
    August 14, 2019
    UK drivers could be banned from using phones in hands-free mode, following a suggestion from MPs. The House of Commons Transport Select Committee has said that current UK law creates the “misleading impression” that the use of hands-free phones is a safe driving practice. However, there is increasing evidence to show that hands-free usage “creates the same risks of collision as using a hand-held device,” say the law-makers. In its latest report, Road Safety: driving while using a mobile phone, the
    Read More
  • Virginia Tech reveals vested interest
    May 9, 2019
    New ITS systems on either side of the Atlantic – such as an intriguing piece of connected clothing – aim to reduce the casualty toll among road maintenance personnel, says Alan Dron t’s not a lot of fun working on road maintenance or road construction worksites. By definition, you’re out in all weathers. You’re not popular with motorists, who blame you for hold-ups. It’s frequently physically arduous. And, worst of all, the sector has an unenviable record of injuries - even fatalities. Often working jus
    Read More

Highlighted Content