Swarco, the traffic technology group, and Monta, the electric vehicle (EV) charging platform have announce they have joined forces to meet new UK charging regulations.
On 30 December 2022, new legislation will come into effect in the UK that will regulate security and safety at private charge points across the UK. The first part of the smart charging regulations were introduced in June and focused on smart charging and managing demand on the grid. This Schedule 1 update contains information security requirements and physical tamper proofing to ensure a safe charging experience for all EV drivers in the UK.
From 30 December all charge points sold in the UK must meet security requirements consistent with the existing cyber security standard ETSI EN 303 645. Charge points must also incorporate safety provisions preventing the user carrying out an operation which could risk the health or safety of a person.
To meet the existing Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations and the new security and safety standards, Monta and Swarco have joined forces to create a secure EV charging solution.
Monta’s software will ensure any passwords set on a charge point are securely stored and managed. Firmware updates will be provided over the air and any unauthorised changes are notified to the owner and that communication with the charge point is encrypted and stored in a secure log.
Swarco’s hardware will ensure that each charge point has a tamper proof boundary and that any hardware required for testing but not for charging will not be exposed.
As Swarco’s charge points used in the private sector will be part of the Powered by Monta programme, they can be shipped directly from the factory with Monta software. This therefore meets the ease of use requirements and a simple set up process.
Alok Dubey, UK Country Manager at Monta, said: “The new regulatory requirements have taken the UK EV charging market a little by surprise.
“While the regulations are great for consumers, and will make the EV charging experience safer, the regulations didn’t take into account the challenges of updating physical products.
“Hardware providers like Swarco have had to interrupt supply chains to meet the new requirements. This is why partnerships are so important to us at Monta, we take care of the software requirements and our partner Swarco can meet the hardware needs.”
Nathan Fearnhead, Swarco Solutions Director, said: “We’re experienced in building a complete solution, but it’s great to be able to partner with agile software providers like Monta to reduce some of the challenges of changing product strategies and regulations. Monta’s software compliments our in-house software and charge points to create a safe, secure, and intelligent solution for our customers across the UK.”
