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

author: FutureCar Staff    

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 made by Vauxhall found that 70% of local authorities in the UK have no EV charging strategy in place 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 responses from 289 out of 414 UK councils and local authorities. It revealed 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 response to these findings, Vauxhall aims 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 from both existing and potential EV drivers. Vauxhall is working with charging operators char.gy, Connected Kerb, and SureCharge to establish an 'Enablement Fund' to 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, where 60% of homes lack off-street parking, on-street charging becomes even more 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 accessible charge points near homes, stating that it is critical for the transition to electric vehicle ownership in the UK. Vauxhall aims to collaborate with the public, councils, and charging operators to educate decision-makers and facilitate the installation of more chargers at a faster pace.

On-street charging infrastructure not only benefits private motorists without off-street parking but also supports businesses. Approximately four in 10 company-owned electric vans are charged at home by employees. Therefore, widespread availability of charge points will assist businesses in going electric by enabling van drivers to conveniently charge both at home and at destination chargers when attending residential jobs.

FutureCar Staff