OPSS - Electric Vehicle Smart Charging Point Testing

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is the appointed Market Surveillance Authority responsible for enforcing the Electric Vehicle (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021 within the UK. This involves ensuring that electric vehicle charging points are of the right quality and that robust and effective regulatory action is taken against serious weaknesses and poor practice. 

The supplier will be required to test up to 15 charge points for compliance against most of the requirements of the Electric Vehicle Smart Charge Points Regulations 2021.

The supplier will be asked to provide their assessment of the charge point, in a pass/fail format. In addition to a test report (for which an initial template will be provided by OPSS) the supplier will be required to provide specific measurements pertaining to reliability and accuracy.

The tests will be undertaken against assessment methods identified by an external testing house as part of a previous project, for the following regulations: 5-2(a), 5-2(b)(i), 5-2(b)(ii), 5-2(d), 6, 7-1, 9-1(a), 9-1(b), 9-2(a), 9-3(a), 9-3(b), 9-4(a), 10-1(a), 10-1(b)(i), 10-1(b)(ii), 10-1(b)(iii), 10-1(c)(i), 10-1(c)(ii), 10-3(a), 11-2(a), 11-2(b), 11-3(a), 12-2(b), 12-8-2, 12-8-3(a), 12-8-3(b), 12-9(a).

The tests will be undertaken in accordance with TS 103 701, identified by an external testing house as part of a previous project as a suitable standard for testing the technical requirements, for the following regulations: 12-2(a), 12-3-1, 12-3-2, 12-3(a), 12-3-3(b), 12-3-3(c), 12-3-3(d), 12-3-4(a), 12-3-4(b), 12-4-1(a), 12-4-2(b), 12-4-1(b), 12-4-2(a), 12-5, 12-6-1(a), 12-6-1(b), 12-6-2, 12-7-1, 12-7-2, 12-9(b), 12-9(c), 12-9(d), 12-9(e).

The supplier will have the opportunity to propose variant assessment methods as part of the tendering process.

The supplier will be asked to provide their assessment of the charge point, in a pass/fail format. In addition to a test report (for which an initial template will be provided by OPSS) the supplier will be required to provide specific measurements pertaining to reliability and accuracy.

OPSS will require access to the technical experts for the duration of the testing, and the supplier will be required to ensure a suitable contact is available during normal work hours on weekdays.

The supplier will be required to have an understanding of the Electric Vehicle (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021. They are not necessarily required to have an understanding of the industry, as the charge point samples are being provided for them. Some suppliers who may bid for the tender may have undertaken testing or certification of the charge points against either the EVSCP Regulations or electrical safety standards, and therefore any conflicts of interest must be declared.