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Charging points for electric cars will be preset to turn off for nine hours a day amid fears they could cause blackouts with the government pushing the switch from diesel and petrol.
From May, every new charger will automatically not function at 'peak times' to ease the pressure on the national grid.
There is also set to be a 'randomised delay' of up to 30 minutes if there is high demand from motorists.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is said to be anxious that huge numbers of drivers will plug in their car when they return home between 5pm and 7pm.
Motoring experts said the measure would be a 'nudge' for drivers to consider charging vehicles during off-peak hours.
The government is banning sales of petrol and diesel cars from 2030, to help eliminate greenhouse gas emissions and achieve its net zero emissions target by 2050.
From May, every new charger will automatically not function at 'peak times' to ease the pressure on the national grid
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is said to be anxious that huge numbers of drivers will plug in their car when they return home between 5pm and 7pm
Under regulations lodged with the World Trade Organisation, new chargers in the home and workplace will by default not operate from 8am to 11am and 4pm to 10pm.
Owners will be able to override the preset times, to take account of night workers and people who have different schedules.
Public chargers and rapid chargers, on motorways and A-roads, will be exempt.
The Commons Transport Select Committee called this summer for owners to be incentivised to recharge batteries 'little but often' to avoid power shortages.
Electric cars have been forecast to create extra 18GW
