Regulations: alternative fuels infrastructure
Source: gov.uk (2025-02-12)

Guidance for suppliers.

Overview

The alternative fuels, electricity and hydrogen, are being regulated to ensure the way they are supplied to vehicles or ships is consistent across the UK. This will reduce dependence on oil and the environmental impact of transport, while contributing to a low carbon economy.

The regulations ensure publicly accessible alternative fuel infrastructure for road transport complies with technical specification and customer experience standards which enable a minimum level of access and information for consumers.

The regulations also ensure shore-side electricity supply installations meet a technical specification standard.

The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulations 2017 is the underpinning legislation.

What is covered

The regulations cover technical specification and customer experience standards for:
- electrical vehicle recharging points (recharging points)
- hydrogen vehicle refuelling points (refuelling points)
They apply to recharging and refuelling points intended for public access, excluding those:
- at workplaces
- shared at residential homes
- used in specific occupations
- for exclusive use by a vehicle produced by a specific manufacturer
They also cover technical specification standards for shore-side electricity supply installations for sea going ships.

Extent of obligation

Infrastructure operators of the recharging or refuelling point are responsible for compliance, whether owning the asset or working on behalf of a third party, as are statutory harbour authorities operating shore-side electricity installations for sea going ships.

How to comply

Technical specification standards are required for alternative fuel road transport infrastructure deployed or renewed after 17 November 2017 for:
- socket outlets and vehicle connectors at recharging points
- vehicle connectors at refuelling points
Customer experience standards are also required for:
- geographic location data of recharging and refuelling points made available to the public
- intelligent metering systems incorporated into recharging points
- ad-hoc provision enabling consumers access to a recharging point without entering into a pre-existing contract
Technical specification standards are required for shore-side electricity supply installations for sea going ships deployed or renewed after 17 November 2017.

The role of the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS)

OPSS enforces the regulations in the UK on behalf of the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-for-zero-emission-vehicles) for:

1) alternative fuel road transport infrastructure in relation to:
- technical specification standards
- customer experience standards
2) shore-side electricity supply installations in relation to:
- technical specification standards
Our approach to addressing non-compliance by those we regulate is set out in our Enforcement Policy, which should be read alongside guidance on the specific enforcement actions available to us under the regulations, and associated rights to make representations or appeal.

Read our Enforcement Policy (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-and-standards-enforcement-enforcement-policy)

Read our guidance on enforcement actions and associated rights (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/opss-enforcement-enforcement-actions/alternative-fuels-infrastructure-regulations-and-alternative-fuel-labelling-regulations)

Where to find out more

Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulations 2017 (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/897/contents/made)

You may also be interested in the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/1168/contents/made).

Contact us

If you have a specific enquiry about compliance or wish to contact us regarding suspected non-compliance please email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Alternatively you can contact our helpdesk on xx-xxxx-xxxx.

Or in writing to:

Office for Product Safety and Standards4th Floor Multistory18 The Priory QueenswayBirminghamB4 6BSUnited Kingdom