Electric vehicle charge point providers pause non-essential charge point installations

BP Chargemaster, Pod Point and Ubitricity have paused all non-essential workplace and home charge point installations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pod Point confirmed it will carry on installations for key workers and households where an electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid is their only mode of transport.

All three will continue servicing and maintenance work on their networks of chargers during the nationwide lockdown.

Matteo S. G. de Renzi, BP Chargemaster chief executive, said: “We are reviewing our current activity to ensure that only essential work is being carried out and that the only teams working outside of their homes are those carrying out essential work.

“For customers due to have a Homecharge survey or installation, these will be postponed until a later date.

“We have had confirmation from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles that any order due to be installed by the 31st March 2020 that is delayed beyond this date, due to unforeseen circumstances will be considered for the £500 grant.”

BP Chargemaster announced last week it is offering free electricity and public network subscription to the UK’s emergency services to help them during the coronavirus pandemic. It is also now waiving all Polar Plus subscription fees until the end of May.

A statement from Pod Point said: “In light of the restriction of movement and social distances measures, alongside school closures and the fact that some of our staff are self-isolating, we’ve made the difficult decision to pause a wide range of activities involving physical customer interactions until further notice.

“We will, however, be making exceptions in critical cases to make sure people who need to charge to get around during the outbreak are able to (with our team observing new safety measures to minimise risk to themselves and our customers).

“It’s also important to state that we are constantly reviewing the situation and may change the measures set out here as we get new information and guidance from the UK government.”