All government-funded home charge points for electric vehicles (EVs) must use innovative 'smart' technology from July 2019 under plans announced by the Department for Transport (DfT) today that are designed to boost EV infrastructure and ease pressure on the UK power grid.

Confirming an ambition set out in the Road to Zero strategy launched earlier this year, the announcement means that from next summer EV chargepoints must be capable of being remotely accessed, as well as receiving, interpreting, and reacting to digital signals, the government explained.

The new specifications are aimed at making chargers easier to use in a bid to further encourage the uptake of EVs, cut costs for consumers, and reduce the impact of growing numbers of electric vehicles on the UK power grid.

Smart charging technologies can reduce high peaks of electricity demand, thereby minimising pressue on the electricity system and helping to keep costs down for consumers by encouraging off-peak electric car charging, according to DfT.

Advocates of the technology maintain it can also integrate with smart grid functionality to help support a grid that is more reliant on renewable power, potentially allowing for EV batteries to act as additional storage capacity.

It comes as an increasing numbers of energy companies - such as British Gas, Engie and Scottish Power - start to offer tariffs specifically designed for EV drivers, enabling them to power up their cars at times of the day when electricity is cheaper.

Recent findings from a trial by Octopus found its smart EV tariffs help its customers save money, reduce energy use, lower pressure on the power grid and curb CO2 emissions.

Roads Minister Jesse Norman said he wanted the UK to be "the best place in the world to build and own and EV".

"We have already supported the installation of over 100,000 home chargepoints," he said. "Now the measures announced today will give more people the opportunity to make the move to electric."

The government will also today confirm it will maintain grants to install chargepoints at home and in the workplace at their current level of up to £500.

Since 2014, the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme has delivered over 60,000 grants to install chargepoints, it added. Current rates have been committed by the government until March 2020, or until 30,000 installations in 2019/20 have been supported.

Energy Minister Richard Harrington said the measures would "help us power towards a cleaner, greener future".

"Through our modern Industrial Strategy and Automotive Sector Deal, we are investing to ensure the UK is the leading destination for the innovation and manufacture of electric vehicle batteries and technologies to help all parts of the UK reap the economic benefits of these innovations," he said.

In Germany, meanwhile, car giants BMW and Porsche yesterday unveiled a new 'FastCharge' public charging station which they claim can provide enough power in just three minutes to enable an EV to drive 100km (62 miles).

The ultra-fast charger prototype in Bavaria has a capacity of 450kW enabling an EV to recharge to 80 per cent capacity in just 15 minutes, they said. The performance means the unit has more than triple the capacity of Tesla's superchargers and can therefore power up a car in half the time.

The new charging station is free of charge to use and suitable for all models and brands, said BMW.