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Government proposes tougher security and metering rules for public EV chargers used by taxi fleets
The Government is considering new mandatory security requirements for public electric vehicle charging points, with potential implications for infrastructure providers serving electric taxi and private hire fleets.
The Department for Transport (DfT) launched a consultation on Thursday 29 October proposing minimum cybersecurity standards for public chargers sold or installed in Great Britain.
The proposals would require charging equipment to comply with the ETSI EN 303 645 cybersecurity standard, which addresses risks associated with internet-connected devices.
Manufacturers could also be permitted to demonstrate compliance through the European EN 18031 standard, potentially reducing additional certification requirements for equipment already sold in European markets.
The Government is separately proposing physical protections designed to prevent tampering and unauthorised access to charging equipment.
These could include tamper-evident seals, sensors capable of detecting attempts to open charger casings and systems that notify users when internal components have been accessed.
The consultation also proposes requiring all new public charging points to incorporate electricity meters meeting Class B accuracy requirements under the Measuring Instruments Regulations 2016.
According to the Department for Transport, these meters must be capable of measuring electricity consumption within a 2% accuracy tolerance.
The department says the requirements would help protect charging customers and businesses against inaccurate measurements and potential fraud.
The proposals would apply to new public charging equipment rather than requiring existing installations to be upgraded.
The Government has confirmed that it does not intend to mandate retrofitting. Chargers reaching the end of their operational lives would instead need to be replaced with compliant equipment once the requirements take effect.
The Government is also considering how compliance should be verified, including self-assessment with regulatory inspections or independent third-party certification.
The consultation closes at 11.59pm on 20 December 2026. No final regulatory decision has been announced.
