The Autonomous and Electric Vehicles Act has officially become UK law

The Automated and Electric Vehicles Act has passed through Parliament, representing a significant step towards an electric vehicle revolution, improved air quality, reduced congestion, boosted road safety and the creation of thousands of jobs across the UK.

The AEV Act will see an improvement in electric chargepoint availability; providing the government with new powers to ensure motorway services are upgraded with plenty of points and allowing mayors to request installations at large fuel retailers in their areas.

The new laws will improve consumer confidence in charging their vehicles by making sure that public chargepoints are compatible with all vehicles, standardising how they are paid for and setting standards for reliability.

Jesse Norman, Roads Minister, said: “The UK is becoming a world leader in the roll-out of low-emission transport. Today we have passed a significant milestone in that journey. The increasing automation of our cars is transforming the way we drive and the government is steadily updating our laws in order to prepare for the future.

“This act will ensure that the UK’s infrastructure and insurance system is ready for the biggest transport revolution in a century.”

The act will also bring automated vehicle insurance in line with longstanding motor insurance practice, ensuring that motorists are covered when they are driving and when the driver has legitimately handed control to the vehicle.

The measures in the new act form part of the government’s recently launched Road to Zero strategy. The UK will also be hosting the first Zero Emission Vehicle summit later in 2018 in Birmingham, promoting the UK as a world leader for investment in and uptake of zero emission vehicles.