Boosting residential EV charging

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【Summary】Vauxhall has launched the 'Electric Streets of Britain' program to address the lack of residential on-street EV charging infrastructure. A freedom of information request found that 70% of local authorities in the UK have no strategy for on-street EV charging. Additionally, 40% of homes in the UK lack a driveway or garage for charging.

FutureCar Staff Aug 18, 2023 7:02 AM PT

Vauxhall has launched an initiative called the 'Electric Streets of Britain' program to address the lack of EV charging strategies in local authorities. A freedom of information request made by Vauxhall revealed that 70% of local authorities have no plan for residential on-street EV charging. This poses a significant barrier to EV adoption, as 40% of homes in the UK do not have a driveway or garage for charging.

The FOI request received responses from 289 out of 414 UK councils, and it was found that 69% of them have not installed any on-street chargers. Additionally, 45% confirmed that they have no plans to install residential on-street chargers this year. In response to these findings, Vauxhall has set up the 'Electric Streets of Britain' program to ensure that homes without driveways are not left behind in the transition to zero-emission motoring.

Vauxhall has created a national database at www.electricstreets.co.uk where the public can register their needs for on-street charging. This will help councils understand the demand for on-street charging and better cater to the needs of existing and potential EV drivers. Vauxhall is also working with charging operators char.gy, Connected Kerb, and SureCharge to establish an 'Enablement Fund' that will assist councils in understanding on-street charging issues and available solutions.

The importance of on-street charging is highlighted by the fact that 80% of all EV charging is done at home. In urban areas, the percentage of homes without off-street parking rises to 60%. Vauxhall suggests installing lamp post chargers and pavement-mounted bollards as potential solutions, as they can be quickly installed and operational within 30 minutes.

James Taylor, Managing Director of Vauxhall, emphasizes the need for accessibility to charge points near homes and aims to involve the public, councils, and charging operators in the journey towards electric vehicle ownership. Vauxhall aims to educate decision-makers and facilitate the installation of more chargers to meet the growing demand.

On-street charging provision not only benefits private motorists but also supports businesses in transitioning to electric vehicles. Approximately four in 10 company-owned electric vans are charged at home by employees. Therefore, the availability of charge points will enable van drivers to conveniently charge both at home and at destination chargers when attending residential jobs.