Last Updated: 09/22/2025
Electric mobility has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years and is expected to continue its exponential growth over the next decade. Consider that 4.1 million electric vehicles (EVs) were sold globally in the first quarter of 2025, a 35% increase compared to the same period the previous year. Moreover, projections estimate that a total of 245 million EVs will be on the roads by 2030.
This dramatic rise in EV adoption is putting significant pressure on electrical grids, and meeting the growing demand for electricity remains a major challenge for countries worldwide. To address this, governments and individuals are turning to smart charging as a key solution to manage EV loads and optimize energy consumption.
By enabling connectivity between a charger and the end user, a smart EV charger allows for easy monitoring and control of the charging process. This offers substantial potential to reduce grid strain by automatically adapting EV charging to fluctuations in grid capacity. This article explores the regulatory landscape of smart charging and examines the policies implemented in the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the United States.
What is Smart EV Charging?
Smart charging is a broad term that can be somewhat confusing. Let’s break it down together.
The dictionary definition is as follows: Smart charging is a charging operation in which the electrical power delivered to the battery is dynamically adjusted based on communication signals.
In simple terms, a smart battery charger enables communication between an electric vehicle and a charging station. Through the exchange of data and information, users can better control and understand the charging process and energy consumption.
The data generated by smart charging can be particularly useful for EV drivers, who can decide when and how to charge their vehicle based on load and cost information. A smart EV charger can also automatically monitor changes in electrical circuit capacity and adjust the charging process accordingly to prevent overloads.
Why Implement Smart EV Charging Regulations?
Installing a smart EV charger offers numerous benefits for both EV drivers and grid operators by making charging more predictable and simplifying the management of peak electrical loads. Additionally, the broader energy system benefits, as smart charging enables better integration of renewable energy sources.
To ensure smart EV chargers meet certain standards, governments are increasingly adopting regulations. Generally, these regulations aim to enhance the charging experience in various ways.
Intuitive and Accessible EV Charging
One of the most critical aspects of a charging station is its ease of use. Drivers should be able to easily understand how a charger works and use it effortlessly. Our research shows that 54% of EV drivers consider a user-friendly interface one of the most important factors when choosing a charging station.
As such, a smart charger must ensure it is intuitive and accessible, particularly regarding the software interface connecting the charger to the user, such as a charging app. Balancing the amount of data and information available to the user without making the charging interface overly complex or difficult to understand is a challenge.
Remote Troubleshooting and Software Updates for EV Charging
Connectivity is a key feature that distinguishes a smart charging station from a standard one, enabling remote troubleshooting and diagnostics. This allows the charging station provider to easily access a charger’s status and diagnose issues in real time. Since one in four EV drivers prioritizes (preventive) maintenance services when purchasing an EV charger, the need for such services is clear.
This not only enables immediate troubleshooting but also allows technicians to fix certain errors entirely remotely, eliminating the need for an in-person visit. Additionally, a smart charger keeps the driver informed about the charging process and alerts them immediately if something goes wrong.
Beyond troubleshooting, connectivity also allows a smart charger to receive periodic software updates, unlocking new features and continuously improving the user experience.
Energy Efficiency of EV Charging Stations
In addition to ease of use and connectivity, energy efficiency is a critical criterion for a charging station: our research shows that 65% of EV drivers consider energy efficiency their top priority when purchasing an EV charger.
By providing better insight into the charging process, smart charging allows you to optimize your EV’s energy consumption and manage costs. For example, you can schedule charging during off-peak hours, where electricity tariffs are more favorable, and grid demand is lower.
A Transparent EV Charging Experience
As mentioned earlier, a smart charging station enables real-time monitoring and control of the charging process, contributing to transparency—an aspect considered by 32% of EV drivers when purchasing a charger. Indeed, EV drivers can precisely know the amount of energy consumed by their car at any given moment or the cost they are paying for their electricity usage. This allows them to understand how to reduce consumption or manage costs by optimizing charging times.
Ready for Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Technology
Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology is an emerging solution that enables bidirectional energy flows between an electric vehicle and the electrical grid. In other words, V2G allows an electric car to temporarily supply energy to the grid, acting as a storage system to help offset peak demand.
While not yet widely available, this technology holds great promise. In 2025, initial commercial deployments are occurring in the UK and Europe, with V2G tariffs launched by players like Octopus Energy and BYD, and standards like ISO 15118-20 facilitating adoption.
Grid operators can leverage these bidirectional flows to manage growing electricity demand and prevent overloads. The broader energy system can benefit from the vast storage potential of electric vehicles; aggregated EV fleets could transform their batteries into virtual power plants capable of supplying energy when needed or storing renewable energy. Of course, government regulations will be crucial in guiding V2G deployment and ensuring smart charging stations meet the appropriate specifications for V2G capability.
Overview of Smart EV Charging Regulations
Depending on where you are, smart charging regulations are either in place or under development. To provide clarity, we’ve created an easy-to-understand overview of smart charging regulations in the UK, Europe, and the United States.
| Region | Main Status in 2025 | Key Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom 🇬🇧 | Strengthened regulations with 2025 update | Ban on non-smart chargers for domestic use; mandatory connectivity, security, and emerging V2G. |
| European Union 🇪🇺 | AFIR fully in force since 2024 | Public chargers digitally connected; ISO 15118 standards; V2G mandatory based on national assessments. |
| United States 🇺🇸 | Streamlined and accelerated NEVI | Increased flexibility for states; interoperability; no specific smart requirements but encouraged. |
United Kingdom
Globally, the UK remains at the forefront of smart charging regulation, having implemented a robust set of measures governing the use of EV chargers. As of 2025, all EV chargers sold in the UK for home or workplace use must be fully smart and meet an enhanced set of minimum requirements. These regulations primarily focus on connectivity, privacy and security, off-peak charging, staggered charging times, and V2G integration.
What does this mean for EV drivers and owners?
With the introduction of these smart charging regulations, all new EV charger sales in the UK must offer a minimum set of features. As of this writing, most EV charging products on the UK market are now compliant. To clarify what these mandatory features are and how they affect you as an EV driver in the UK, we’ve provided an overview below.
Connectivity
One of the main requirements of the new regulation is that all EV chargers must have integrated data connectivity that measures and communicates electricity consumption during the charging session. Simultaneously, this monitoring system allows the charger to automatically delay or slow down charging, for example, if electricity demand is too high.
Connectivity is typically managed through an app that allows users to access information generated by the charger and manage the process based on their needs and preferences. This monitoring capability also benefits manufacturers, who can identify and resolve issues remotely.
Off-Peak Charging
To combat peak electricity demand, all new chargers sold from 2025 must be set by default to avoid charging during peak hours, specifically between 8–11 AM and 4–10 PM.
This measure aims to enhance grid stability and allow grid operators to generate electricity more evenly by mitigating demand peaks. It also addresses the future growth of EV sales, ensuring they do not overload the grid and cause disruptive outages.
Of course, this default setting does not restrict the user, as it can be manually overridden by an EV driver if needed. Thus, users can still charge whenever they want but are encouraged to do so at times more optimal for the grid—and their wallet.
Many utilities offer cheaper off-peak tariffs at night when electricity demand is lower. This default setting can generate significant savings for EV drivers without them even realizing it.
Delayed Charging / Progressive Charging Times
To avoid a demand spike at 10 PM due to millions of EVs starting to charge simultaneously, the government requires chargers to be capable of delaying charging by up to 1,800 seconds (30 minutes) to protect the grid.
This way, EVs can begin charging in phases, smoothing out the demand increase over a longer period, making it easier to manage. As with the previous features, EV drivers retain control and can manually override the delay if they wish to charge immediately.
Privacy
In an enhanced phase in 2025, charging points must comply with strict privacy and security standards. Regarding privacy, chargers must ensure that all data sent to and from the station is encrypted and protected to safeguard user privacy and mitigate the risk of cyberattacks.
The regulation also requires that users can easily control the data they share and delete collected personal data. By default, this information will only be retained for 12 months.
Security
Another set of requirements in effect in 2025 pertains to security. According to this policy, a charger must be “designed, manufactured, and configured to provide appropriate protection against the risk of damage or disruption to the electrical system and the corresponding charging point.”
In other words, chargers must be created to ensure user safety, prevent damage to the charger, and ensure the charger does not disrupt the grid, for example, by overloading it.
What if I already have a charging station?
You may wonder how this affects you if you already own a charger. The good news is that if you installed a charging station before 2025, it is exempt from these requirements and will continue to function even if it lacks the features mentioned above. However, if you upgrade your charger or install a new one, it must meet the new requirements and be capable of smart charging.
European Union
The EU has adopted a series of initiatives to achieve a carbon-neutral future and promote electric mobility. The two main regulations proposed by the EU to reduce CO2 emissions from transportation are the European Green Deal and, more specifically, the Fit for 55 package.
The European Green Deal stems from the 27 member states’ recognition of the urgency of climate change and proposes a set of guiding principles and legally binding emissions targets for 2050. The Fit for 55 package is a result of the Green Deal and outlines detailed policy initiatives to reduce Europe’s emissions by at least 55% by 2030.
A key element of the Fit for 55 package is the ban on sales of new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in the EU by 2035, officially approved by the European Parliament in June 2022. This ban creates new challenges as the EU transitions to electric mobility.
Current Smart Charging Proposal under the Fit for 55 Package
To address the growing demand for EV charging, the Fit for 55 package includes a regulation on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure (AFIR), fully in force since April 2024. Under this plan, all new public charging stations in Europe must be digitally connected and capable of smart charging, with ISO 15118-20 standards mandatory by summer 2025.
The AFIR is one of the most significant European policies, setting the legislative framework for public charging over the next decade. It is fundamental to achieving the Green Deal and developing a dense, accessible, and intuitive charging network across all member states.
The proposal outlines three key requirements for charging infrastructure. First, the European charging network must be equitable, meaning no one should receive preferential treatment or be prevented from using chargers. It must also be open, available, and usable by the general public without access restrictions. Finally, the charging infrastructure must be easily accessible, meaning a sufficient number of public chargers must be installed, particularly around transport hubs like airports and train stations.
In addition to the AFIR proposal, the Renewable Energy Directive III would require all private charging infrastructure to support smart charging as well. This would enable EV drivers to benefit from real-time control of the charging session, optimized charger status information, and a comprehensive overview of charging times and costs.
Crucial for the future stability of the European grid, the AFIR proposal lays the groundwork for making vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology mandatory in chargers, based on each member state’s assessment. This means V2G, which allows electricity to be fed back into the grid from EV batteries, is on track to become a reality, giving consumers even greater control over their energy consumption.
United States
Like the EU and the UK, the United States is implementing regulations to encourage electric mobility under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, updated in August 2025 for greater flexibility.
This program aims to establish standards to ensure a more efficient and consistent EV charging network. Specifically, these regulations aim to make EV charging infrastructure ergonomic, accessible, and reliable. Additionally, funds are made available to states for installing chargers along major transportation corridors.
Notably, the U.S. requires interoperability among different charging providers, establishing similar payment systems, pricing information, charging speeds, and more. This proposal would create a seamless EV charging infrastructure network capable of communicating and operating on the same software platforms across states.
This would not only significantly improve the user experience but also create an EV charging database that collects data and facilitates monitoring, diagnostics, and updates for any charger.
While not exclusively focused on smart charging, the proposed EV charging standards in the U.S. aim to achieve accessibility and connectivity outcomes greatly facilitated by smart charging. Thus, even without specific smart charging requirements, the NEVI program will likely contribute to the increased use of smart charging in the U.S., with accelerated deployments in 2025.
As the number of electric vehicles on the road continues to grow, the demand for charging infrastructure will only increase in the coming years. To ensure infrastructure is in place and developed to certain standards of accessibility, openness, and connectivity, governments worldwide are introducing new regulations regarding EV charging and smart charging in particular.
If you’re considering installing an EV charger at home, you may wonder how to take advantage of smart charging. To learn more about how smart charging works and its practical aspects, check out our dedicated blog on the topic.