UK % Uptime Rule for EV Chargers

Reliability is now a regulated performance metric for public rapid charging in the United Kingdom, and that single fact will change how fleet managers plan every shift. The Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 introduce a statutory 99 % annual uptime threshold for rapid (≥ 50 kW) public chargers. The goal is to reduce broken hardware, stranded drivers and emergency reroutes. For fleets, the consequence is that network selection, service-level agreements (SLAs) and driver training must all be reworked to centre reliability as a cost driver. This article translates the regulation into an operational playbook for UK fleet leaders.

Understanding the reliability mandate

The 99 % uptime requirement applies across an operator’s network of rapid charge points, averaged over a 12-month reporting period. While individual units may fall short, the network must achieve the target or risk enforcement action. The standard relies on accurate tracking of charger availability, with downtime only excluded when the hardware is deliberately withdrawn from service for upgrades. Because the rule applies to any rapid charger accessible to the public, mixed-use depots and forecourts with public access fall into scope. Fleet users should therefore expect their preferred charge-point operators (CPOs) to publish and explain uptime data as part of standard account management.

From a policy perspective the regulation sits alongside requirements for contactless payment, 24/7 helplines and open data. The UK government’s intention is clear: fleets and consumers should be able to trust that rapid charging works as predictably as fuelling a diesel van. When uptime is monitored and shared, price comparisons and routing decisions can be made with confidence. The expectation is that fleets will stop accepting “downtime” as a cost of doing business and instead insist on verifiable performance.

Compliance timeline and the enforcement picture

Operators were given a one-year grace period from November 2023 to align with the rule. That means 2025 is the first year where networks must demonstrate consistent 99 % uptime in published reporting. Enforcement will accelerate through the Office for Product Safety and Standards, giving regulators the ability to issue improvement notices or civil penalties. Fleet procurement teams should note that the carrot-and-stick mechanism is now in place: if a CPO ignores the threshold, financial consequences follow, and those costs may be passed on to corporate customers. Proactive fleets will therefore create monitoring dashboards to spot declining uptime before invoices rise.

Operational impact on routing and scheduling

Reliable public charging is indispensable for mixed ICE/EV fleets that still rely on rapid top-ups to hit daily mileage. A single broken charger can cascade into overtime payments, missed deliveries and customer dissatisfaction. Under the new rule, fleets can demand performance data that supports smarter routing: route-planning tools can prioritise chargers with proven uptime, while telematics can flag sites that fall below internal KPIs. The result is a tangible reduction in contingency miles and a clearer cost-per-mile projection during budgeting.

Driver scheduling also changes. With confidence that rapid chargers remain available, planners can shrink buffer time in duty rosters, increasing vehicle utilisation. However, fleets must still develop contingency playbooks for unexpected outages. The best practice is to build A/B/C site hierarchies into navigation systems and to use live availability feeds to steer drivers dynamically. Combining the regulatory mandate with real-time data prevents the 1 % downtime from becoming a mission-critical issue.

Commercial levers: SLAs, credits and partnerships

The regulation is a powerful negotiating tool. Fleet procurement teams should revisit framework agreements and master service contracts to incorporate explicit uptime clauses. These might include:

Minimum 99 % network uptime measured monthly, with transparent reporting.
Service credits or tariff reductions when uptime dips below threshold.
Requirements for proactive communication during maintenance windows.
Collaboration on joint audits or annual performance reviews.
Suppliers who embrace the rule will differentiate themselves through third-party verification and published compliance dashboards. Fleets that push for co-branded success metrics will enjoy priority support, faster fault resolution and potentially co-investment in on-route infrastructure.

Fleet moves for 2025

Map your dependency. Analyse telematics data to identify the rapid chargers most frequently used by your drivers. Prioritise compliance conversations with those operators.
Update your digital stack. Ensure routing, cost modelling and driver apps can ingest uptime metrics and trigger alerts when reliability falls below internal policy thresholds.
Train for resilience. Brief drivers on the new standard and on escalation pathways when faults are encountered. Encourage consistent fault reporting so that data aligns with CPO records.
Budget for performance. Incorporate uptime-linked rebates or penalties into financial planning so that charger reliability becomes a tangible line item in cost-per-mile analysis.

Strategic context for UK fleets

The 99 % rule is part of a broader policy push that also covers contactless payments, roaming and data transparency. Together these measures create a more interoperable charging ecosystem, enabling mixed-fuel fleets to transition with less friction. Organisations that align early gain a competitive advantage: customer service improves as delivery windows stabilise, insurance providers view operations as lower risk, and sustainability reports can highlight verifiable infrastructure performance.

Next steps with EVDecisionCompass

If you need to stress-test charging reliability against your route matrix, explore our AER Compliance Pack for policy-ready documentation and analytics templates. For rapid benchmarking of your supplier list, request a Fleet Audit Express session and receive an actionable roadmap in days.

UK 99 % Uptime Rule for EV Chargers