Boosting residential EV charging initiatives

Home > Industry Analysis > Content

【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 revealed that 70% of local authorities have no EV charging strategy for residential areas. The initiative aims to support homes without driveways or garages by creating a national database to register charging needs and working with charging operators to find solutions.

FutureCar Staff Aug 22, 2023 10:12 AM PT

Boosting residential EV charging initiatives

Vauxhall has launched an initiative called the 'Electric Streets of Britain' program to address the lack of residential on-street EV charging infrastructure. A freedom of information request made by Vauxhall revealed that 70% of local authorities in the UK have no strategy in place for on-street EV charging.

This is 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 also found that 69% of councils have not installed any on-street chargers, and 45% have no plans to do so this year.

In response to these findings, Vauxhall has set up a national database at www.electricstreets.co.uk for the public to register their need for on-street charging. This will help councils understand the demand for charging infrastructure in their areas.

Vauxhall is working with charging operators char.gy, Connected Kerb, and SureCharge to establish an 'Enablement Fund' to assist councils in understanding the scale of on-street charging issues and the available solutions. This initiative is aimed at preparing for the government's planned ban on the sale of new internal combustion engine cars in 2030.

The importance of on-street charging is highlighted by the fact that 80% of all EV charging is done at home. In urban areas, where 60% of homes lack off-street parking, on-street charging becomes even more crucial. Vauxhall suggests solutions such as lamp post chargers and pavement-mounted bollards, which can be quickly installed.

James Taylor, Managing Director of Vauxhall, emphasizes the need for accessibility to charge points near homes. He wants to ensure that anyone without a driveway can be part of the transition to electric vehicle ownership. Vauxhall aims to educate and inform decision-makers and facilitate the installation of more chargers.

On-street charging provision not only benefits private motorists but also supports businesses. Around four in 10 company-owned electric vans are charged at home by employees. Therefore, the widespread availability of charge points will assist businesses in going electric by enabling van drivers to conveniently charge both at home and at residential job locations.