Boosting residential on-street EV charging: Vauxhall's new initiative

author: FutureCar Staff    

Vauxhall has launched the 'Electric Streets of Britain' program in response to a freedom of information request that revealed that seven out of ten local authorities in the UK have no EV charging strategy for residential on-street 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 289 responses from the 414 UK councils and local authorities approached. It also found that 69% of them have not installed any on-street chargers, and 45% have no plans to install residential on-street chargers this year.

In order to address this issue, Vauxhall has set up the 'Electric Streets of Britain' program, which includes 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 charging infrastructure.

Vauxhall is working with charging operators char.gy, Connected Kerb, and SureCharge to establish an 'Enablement Fund' to help councils understand the scale of on-street charging issues and the available solutions. This initiative aims to ensure that homes without driveways are not left behind in the transition to zero-emission motoring.

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 the percentage of homes without off-street parking rises to 60%, on-street charging is crucial. Vauxhall suggests solutions such as lamp post chargers, which can be installed and operational within 30 minutes, and pavement-mounted bollards.

James Taylor, Managing Director of Vauxhall, emphasizes the need for accessibility to charge points near homes in the UK. The goal is to involve the public, councils, and charging operators in the transition to electric vehicle ownership. Vauxhall aims to educate decision-makers and enable the installation of more chargers at a faster pace.

On-street charging provision not only benefits private motorists without off-street parking but also supports businesses. Approximately four in ten company-owned electric vans are charged at home by employees. Therefore, widespread availability of charge points will help businesses go electric by enabling van drivers to conveniently charge both at home and at residential job sites.

FutureCar Staff