Britain wants every new public charger to meet the same cyber security baseline. The Department for Transport (DfT) has opened a consultation on proposals for public EV charge points sold or installed in Great Britain. The proposals are not yet law, and the consultation closes at 11:59pm on Dec. 20, 2026.
What the DfT is proposing
- A cyber security standard: public charge points would have to comply with ETSI EN 303 645, which electrive notes covers baseline protections for connected devices such as authentication, secure software updates and vulnerability management.
- A possible EU route: the DfT may also accept the European EN 18031 standard. electrive says this would help manufacturers avoid separate requirements for the UK and EU markets.
- Anti-tamper hardware: chargers would need physical anti-tamper protection. electrive lists examples such as protective seals, sensors that detect unauthorized access, and alerts when someone tries to reach internal components.
- Accurate meters: chargers would need electricity meters that comply with the Measuring Instruments Regulations 2016. electrive reports these would have to meet at least Class B accuracy, meaning within 2%.
Why now
According to electrive, the DfT has identified threats including «a direct attack on charge points or where they are manipulated or misused to compromise other parts of the charging network». The department says such incidents could disrupt charging and affect businesses, drivers and wider national infrastructure.
electrive adds that the DfT is considering a possible second phase with further cyber security requirements for charge point operators and e-mobility service providers. Responses can be sent through an online form, by email or by post.